CHILLICOTHE, Ill. (WMBD) — More than 100 people came out to Illinois Valley Central High School to walk and donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
This is the first time that the school has hosted the walk, although the school has raised funds for Cystic Fibrosis for a long time according to event organizer Sherri Heth.
The idea for the walk stemmed from student body president Andrew Boyle, who was inspired after an assembly his freshman year.
“They had a guest speaker, a lady who had Cystic Fibrosis, and she talked about how the life expectancy keeps on getting higher as the years of fundraising go on. When she said that, it meant a lot,” Boyle said.
The school had already raised nearly $5,000 for the event, and Boyle expected more to be raised during the walk. The walk-a-thon signified the beginning of the high school’s fundraising week, which raised more than $35,000 last year.
Heth said that high school students can often get a bad rap, but that this event shows the care that young people can have for their communities.
“I think we need to see more how our young people are really, very passionate people,” she said.
She said the week will culminate in an assembly, featuring members of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as well as a girl with Cystic Fibrosis who will speak about her experience.
