The Carle Place High School community recently came together for the seventh annual Battle of the Classes: Battling for a Cause, a fundraising event that benefits a different charity each year.
This year, students in grades nine to 12 worked together to raise $20,639 for the Lexiebean Foundation for Children with Cancer, whose mission is to help ease the financial and emotional burdens of local families battling childhood cancer. Lexiebean was founded by Joseph and LeaAnn Falabella, who lost their 9-year-old daughter Alexandra (Lexie) to an infection while she was being treated for a form of pediatric cancer in 2009.
The money will also benefit the Geller family and their daughter Guiliana, who was diagnosed with undifferentiated small round sarcoma, an extremely rare form of pediatric cancer, in August 2013.
The event was co-hosted by the school’s Student Organization and Key Club and their advisers Erika Fallik and Maddalena Buffalino, respectively. Approximately 325 high school students participated in events including four-corner volleyball, an obstacle course, relay races, Pictionary, ultimate Frisbee, basketball, tug-o-war and more. The senior class was named the overall winner of the event and junior Augie Cavallaro was the top fundraiser for his contribution of $4,250.
“Planning for Battle of the Classes took months of preparation,” said Student Organization vice president Kevin Kelly. “Seeing how much fun everyone had and how successful it was made it all worth it. The seniors may have been victorious in the events, but everybody was a winner for helping the Lexiebean Foundation.”
“Having been an instrumental player in the success of this event for the past four years, it is difficult to say goodbye,” said Key Club president and senior class president Rachael Martines. “However, I do so with pride and satisfaction knowing that we have made such a great collective impact over the years. I am so grateful that my peers and I had the opportunity to share the incredible love and support of the Carle Place community with these special families.”
— From the CP School District
