Schools combine efforts for Tackle Cancer fundraiser

Deborah Prescott | Daily Press Delaney McIntyre talks to cookie customers at the Escanaba High School cafeteria this week. Students in Escanaba Key Club and Silver Linings Club, Gladstone Key Club and Bay Circle K are selling various items through the week for the Tackle Cancer fundraising campaign. Seated, from left, are Escanaba Key Club members Trenton Tolman, Daniel Smith, McIntyre, and Cheyenne Ness.
ESCANABA — The Escanaba High School Key Club, Silver Linings, Gladstone High School Key Club and Bay de Noc Community College Circle K are teaming up to raise money this week for the second annual Tackle Cancer fundraiser/event. Members are raising money by selling baked goods, decals, T-shirts, and other items in schools now through the end of the varsity football game between the Gladstone Braves and Escanaba Eskymos on Friday. All proceeds will go to the Delta County Cancer Alliance.
Gladstone Key Club members are selling root beer floats during lunch, selling Tackle Cancer T-shirts, and asking local businesses for donations, according to Gladstone Key Club Advisor Lisa Thomas.
Tuesday, Escanaba Key Club and Silver Linings members each had a table set up in the Escanaba High School cafeteria. Key Club sold baked goods and Silver Linings sold decals, reusable straws, pins and bandanas. Thursday, the Escanaba Key Club will hold a candy sale during both lunch periods.
Escanaba Key Club member Cheyenne Ness has a heart for service. Ness said her father is a member of the Kiwanis and she decided to follow in his footsteps by joining a club to help the community.
“Any time I get the chance to … I like to help out,” said Ness.
Trenton Tolman, ninth grade Escanaba Key Club member, agrees.
“I joined Key Club to do a service for the community,” he said.
Junior Anna Smith is a Silver Linings member and enjoys volunteering.
“I volunteer for things that I believe do good for others in the community,” said Smith.
The culminating event will be at Friday’s varsity football game. During the game between the Gladstone Braves and Escanaba Eskymos, items will be available to purchase. The game will be held at the Escanaba Athletic Field starting at 7 p.m.
“We’ll be selling items there, including extra shirts, and if we make enough money then football players from both teams will have their heads shaved at the end of the game,” said Silver Linings Advisor Lauren Bishop.
During the first Tackle Cancer campaign, the clubs raised a total of $4,500. Initially the goal was $1,000.
“Last year our goal was to raise $1,000, but obviously we exceeded that,” said Escanaba Key Club Advisor Linda Beauchamp. “This year our goal is $5,000. If we meet our goal, heads get shaved.”
The athletic directors from Escanaba and Gladstone are both involved in the Shave-O-Meter event, along with some varsity football players from both teams. As the amount raised gets higher, additional football players will be added to the event with both athletic directors at the top, $5,000. After the game, the players and possibly the athletic directors will get their heads shaved.
To help raise the amount to the attainable goal, attend the game and join in the Miracle Minute. Between first and second quarters of the football game, Key Club members from both Gladstone and Escanaba will hold a Miracle Minute. Members will run up and down the bleachers collecting as much money as possible from fans in attendance during the minute for the campaign. The school that collects the most money will get bragging rights.