District News

Braves football finds amazing way to thank coach and his wife.

It began with a simple comment and grew into something extraordinary.

Fonda-Fultonville senior and football player Cody Headwell heard about the "Avon Walk for Breast Cancer" and mentioned it to his Fonda-Fultonville teammates. He thought it would be a good idea to hold a fundraiser to support the cause and to honor their football coach Tom Carpenter and his wife who is a breast cancer survivor.

"Mrs. Carpenter gives up a lot for our team," said Cody. "Coach is always gone. He spends all of his time at practice and games. He goes to scout opponents. I thought that this would be a good way to say thank you."

The Braves football team thought so, too.

It began with the idea of raising money at homecoming and grew...and grew.

Students who donated to breast cancer research were admitted free to the homecoming football game on Oct. 9. The National Honor Society sold pink Breast Cancer wristbands. Teacher Laura Bellinger approached Cody and offered to sell Otis Spunkmeyer cookies with her Ventures in Enterprise class . Mary Kay consultant Jodi Gualano sold Mary Kay products and donated 100 percent of the profits. The varsity volleyball team collected donations. Phoenix Search and Settlement Corp. of Ballston Spa contributed. Fonda-Fultonville alumnus and football player Pat Williams and residents at Liberty ARC made a 50 ft. banner that read "Let's Sack Breast Cancer!"

When it was over, Fonda-Fultonville's football community had raised an incredible $1000 for breast cancer research.

The effort did not stop with fundraising. Cody suggested to his teammates that they wear a breast cancer wristband when they played.

"I wasn't sure what the guys would say, but they all took two," he laughed. The team wore their bands at their remaining October gains to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

"It's amazing," he said. "When you start talking about it, almost everyone knows someone who was affected by breast cancer."

Making the donation

High school principal David Halloran made the short trip to Amsterdam on Thursday, Nov. 5 to present the proceeds to Family Practioner Dr. Michael Sheridan. Dr. Sheridan has walked in the two-day, 40-mile New York City Avon Walk for Breast Cancer for 11 years in honor of his wife Debbie, a 13-year breast cancer survivor.

In the doctor's office, Cody and Mr. Halloran presented Dr. Sheridan a giant $1000 check—a fitting symbol of the giant effort Cody and his Fonda-Fultonville teammates and friends had invested. The Fonda-Fultonville contribution raised Dr. Sheridan's 2009 total to $57,000. Over his 11 years, Dr. Sheridan has raised over $530,000.

"Cody headed up the fundraiser," said Mr. Halloran. "Other people joined in, but it began with this young man. He did an amazing job."

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