Forest Hills Central Middle School is first middle school to participate
Grand Rapids, Mich. (April 29, 2010)
– Forest Hills Central Middle School held a Community for a Cure purple track event, "Stomp Cancer One Step at a Time," on Tuesday, April 27, 2010, to support cancer research at Van Andel Institute (VAI). Forest Hills Central was the first middle school to participate in the program. The event raised $4,000.
The event resulted from a tour of VAI that was part of a class project to learn more about the development of cancer. Money was raised through donations and the sale of event T-shirts, wristbands, and other promotional items.
VAI’s Community for a Cure initiative helps schools bring communities together through purple sporting events to raise awareness about cancer, celebrate survivors, honor loved ones who have passed away, and support cancer research. Proceeds go directly to cancer research at VAI. The color purple symbolizes cancer survivors.
The Forest Hills event was the 14th Community for a Cure game; total proceeds from all games since the inception of the program are approximately $95,000.
Those interested in hosting their own Community for a Cure game can contact Sara Hop at 616-234-5598 or sara.hop@vai.org.
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About Van Andel Institute
Established by Jay and Betty Van Andel in 1996, Van Andel Institute (VAI) is an independent research and educational organization based in Grand Rapids, Mich., dedicated to preserving, enhancing and expanding the frontiers of medical science, and to achieving excellence in education by probing fundamental issues of education and the learning process. VARI, the research arm of VAI, is dedicated to probing the genetic, cellular and molecular origins of cancer, Parkinson and other diseases and working to translate those findings into effective therapies. This is accomplished through the work of over 200 researchers in 18 on-site laboratories, in laboratories in Singapore and Nanjing, and in collaborative partnerships that span the globe.
