Lynn students donating money in cancer battle

LYNN – Students at the Cobbet Elementary School are saving pennies and donating their allowances this month to support the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society’s program for fighting blood cancers.Inspired by their very own classmate, a second grader named Pablo who has been battling leukemia since he was in kindergarten, students and staff members are participating in the “Pennies for Patients” initiative throughout the month of March.Students have been donating pennies and other loose change to a jar in their classrooms since March 2, with the goal of raising as much money as possible before the March 20 deadline.Each classroom has set a goal for how much money they would like to raise before the deadline and school nurse Priscilla Harrington says the effort has already provided some heartwarming and inspiring stories.”We had one student who donated his entire allowance the day after he got it,” she said. “He got $10 for his allowance and he brought it right in to put in his classroom’s jar.”The Lymphoma and Leukemia Society will be donating a pizza party to the classroom that raises the most money and the top schools in the state will get an ice cream party when the fundraiser ends.The school is also eligible to receive other prizes from the society such as much-needed computers, electronics and sports equipment if they are among the top performers in the state.Donations from parents and businesses to aid the Cobbet’s efforts are also welcome. Anyone interested in donating to the cause can send a check payable to the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society care of Cobbet Elementary School to the school address, 40 Franklin St., Lynn MA 01902 before March 20. Donors should address the mailing to either Harrington or Principal Brian Fay. For more information call 781-477-7412 or visit www.schoolandyouth.org.