Hauppauge 5th Grader Leads Walk-a-Thon to Fight Cancer

Caroline O’Brien, a student in Mrs. Leventhal’s fifth grade class at Bretton Woods Elementary School in Hauppauge, wanted to do something special to honor the memory of her beloved grandparents that she lost to cancer. 

With the assistance of Bretton Woods Principal George Gagliardi, Caroline spent most of the school year planning and organizing a school-wide cancer awareness fund-raiser. 

Each elementary school class wore different color clothing, representing six different types of cancer, to participate in the school-wide walk-a-thon. 

The Bretton Woods faculty and students raised close to $1,400, which was donated to the American Cancer Society in memory of Caroline’s grandparents. 

Caroline has pledged to continue her fund-raising efforts for the American Cancer Society with a future art auction and garage sales. 

“It was an honor to unite with Caroline and the entire Bretton Woods faculty and student body for this worthy cause,” Gagliardi said in a press release.

*Article by Hauppauge Schools.

Photo Caption: Planned and organized by fifth-grade student Caroline O’Brien, Bretton Woods Elementary School faculty and students participated in a school-wide fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society.