Woodland
Elementary, Ballou Junior High, and Rogers High school students and
staff have raised thousands of dollars this spring in an outpouring of
support for 16-year-old Taylor Desmet, who was diagnosed in February
with Lymphoma.
Desmet,
a sophomore this year at Rogers High, spent her elementary school years
as a Woodland Eagle and her junior high years as a Ballou Bruin.
In
just three days this week, Woodland Elementary raised more than $6,800
through the sale of “Taylor Tough” white and pink T-shirts and neon
green and pink bracelets. The school also sent a note home to families
asking for financial donations to assist Desmet’s family with medical
costs.
The
fundraiser kicked off with a schoolwide assembly on April 21 to educate
students about Desmet, and a video about the teen was shared in classes
two days later.
After
three days of fundraising, the school held a closing assembly on April
24 to announce the amount raised and allow top student contributors from
each class to spray Silly String on teachers seated in front of the
600-plus students gathered in the gym.
Ballou
Junior High School has raised more than $3,400 to date through the sale
of T-shirts and tickets to a fundraiser dance on campus on April 25.
Rogers
High School students and staff have already given nearly $500 through
the sale of “Taylor Tough” shirts and bracelets and are busy preparing
for its main event fundraiser on May 22.
On
that day, Rogers High leadership students will host a “Student v.
Teacher Taylor Tough” softball game and silent auction, with all
proceeds going to their classmate and her family.
The
softball game is planned from 4 to 6 p.m. at Heritage Recreation
Center, adjacent to Rogers High School at 9010 128th St. E., Puyallup.
Photo
(from left): Woodland Elementary students Jacob Ford, Chloe Garza,
Cassie Force, and Kaitlyn Somero-Quezon display an oversized check
created for a schoolwide assembly presentation following a three-day
fundraiser to support a Rogers High student battling Lymphoma. The
student, Taylor Desmet, attended Woodland Elementary. Since the check
was created, the school raised even more donations bringing the total on
April 25 to more than $6,800.