MERCHANTVILLE, N.J., March 7, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In mid-February, The Haddonfield, N.J. community pulled out all the stops to support two local students, Jason Garstkiewicz, a 7th Grade Haddonfield Middle School student and Colin Hough, a Freshman at Haddonfield Memorial High School, whom had recently been diagnosed with cancer.
As the difficult news spread across town, a group of parents familiar with Go4theGoal's Lace-Up 4 Pediatric Cancer® campaign reached out to order a few hundred NEON yellow shoelaces to distribute to kids around town to show both support for the boys and their families and to raise awareness about pediatric cancer in the community. "The community's response was immediate and remarkable. Students held sales in the High School and Middle School and in shops around town. Within a week, we sold over 7,000 pair of laces and raised more than $30,000 in lace sales and donations," said Jean-Anne McMahon, a Haddonfield resident and friend of Jason's family. "You can't go anywhere in town without seeing someone wearing them!"
Not surprisingly, this story grabbed the attention of two Philadelphia television news stations, FoxPhilly and CBS 3. Both stations aired a compelling news story which helped raise awareness about pediatric cancer and G4G's Lace-Up 4 Pediatric Cancer® movement across the tri-state area and beyond.
"Since these two stories aired, orders for laces have flooded Go4theGoal's website as communities unite in a common cause to raise both awareness and funds to help G4G continue its mission of supporting children battling cancer – and toward the ultimate goal…curing pediatric cancer," says Beth Stefanacci, Go4theGoal's founder and executive director.
In Great Falls, VA, the one-year old daughter of Travis Hess, a beloved Math teacher and Boys Varsity Basketball coach at Langley High School, was recently diagnosed with liver cancer. The Boys Varsity Basketball team heard about the Lace-Up 4 Pediatric Cancer campaign, contacted Go4theGoal and ordered 5,000 pair of laces to sell at several locations McLean and Great Falls, VA on March 10, 2012 to show support for their coach's daughter and family. Proceeds will benefit both Coach Hess' family and the Go4theGoal Foundation.
ABOUT GO4THEGOAL FOUNDATION
Go4theGoal Foundation (www.Go4theGoal.org) is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit charitable organization founded in 2006 by Dr. Richard and Beth Stefanacci, soon after their oldest child was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. Together with funds raised privately and it's many unique awareness and fundraising campaigns, including National Dress 4 Pediatric Cancer Day®, Lace-Up 4 Pediatric Cancer® and Richard's Run® 5K runs, Go4theGoal provides children undergoing cancer treatment and their families with financial assistance, runs fun hospital-based programs, grants special wishes and supplies Apple® electronic products to children and pediatric oncology units in over 30 hospitals across the country. Since 2007, G4G has funded over $500k in innovative pediatric cancer research.
Contact: Beth Stefanacci
Email: bethstefanacci@go4thegoal.org
Tel: (609) 313-0912
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