Students Charlotte Vance, Max Ransom, and Ryan Crump speak at Mission: Remission
Students sign names of those affected by cancer onto ribbons
The McCallie stadium banners remind of those who battle cancer every day
GPS and McCallie students begin their walk
Students take a silent walk around the track
GPS seniors tie ribbons on the McCallie fence
Together some of the sophomore class tie their ribbons
For this year’s sixth annual cancer awareness fundraiser, Mission: Remission, GPS and McCallie students convened on McCallie’s campus to honor those affected by cancer. GPS Student Council President Blythe May introduced the student speakers of the event: Charlotte Vance, Max Ransom, and Ryan Crump.
Charlotte spoke from personal experience about her battle with childhood cancer, which is now in remission. Max shared his family’s story about his baby sister’s short but courageous cancer journey that resulted in the forming of Emily’s Power for a Cure, which raises funds and awareness for neuroblastoma research and treatment. In closing, Ryan talked about McCallie alumnus Joe Restaino and the Joedance Film Festival created in his memory.
While at McCallie, Mr. Restaino established the Joe Restaino Bone Cancer Walk in 2009. GPS and McCallie continue to raise money through the annual Mission: Remission event, benefiting Levine Children’s Hospital in his memory, and Emily’s Power for a Cure in Max’s sister’s memory along with other cancer research organizations.
“This year our council worked alongside McCallie's Student Council to plan an event that would be both meaningful and celebratory,” Blythe says. “From cutting ribbons to hanging banners with statistics, each council member was involved in the planning and execution for this event.”
Both schools sold blue and white tie-dye spirit socks as a fundraiser, adding another $7,000 to the Mission: Remission fund’s total of about $24,000. At McCallie’s stadium, students from both schools signed names on blue and white streamers to honor loved ones affected by cancer. After a silent lap around the track, they then tied the streamers onto the iron fence along the roadway.
“I am incredibly proud of my council for being so thoughtful and intentional in this planning process and I am grateful to both student bodies for making it such a success,” Blythe says.