Light It Up For Amanda

Herricks High School’s Light it UP for Amanda event, held on May 26, was a great success, raising $8,512 in donations for Sunrise Day Camp-Long Island. Members of the Herricks Public Schools and community enthusiastically gathered on the high school field for this twilight walkathon, which honored Amanda Kammerdener, a child who was diagnosed with leukemia last year.
The high school’s Peer Leaders, Youth Against Cancer and Student Government groups teamed up with residents and others from the district to raise funds for SunriseWALKS in support of Sunrise Day Camp-Long Island. In addition to the walk, the event featured music, face painting, dancing and much more. Attendees donned glow in the dark “Light it UP for Amanda” t-shirts that they purchased as part of the fundraising initiative, and Kammerdener and her family were present at the event.
Sunrise Day Camp-Long Island is a full-summer day camp for children with cancer and their siblings, provided free of charge. At camp, during her most intense time of treatment, Amanda regained her self-confidence and magnetic personality and learned to accept the changes in her life and embraced a fighting spirit.
Herricks High School teacher and Peer Leadership organization advisor Gina Schrader did an excellent job as the event organizer and MC. She was assisted by School Counselor Dan Doherty and student leaders Chiravi Patel and Kim Podlaski. Assistant Principal Bryan Hodge was the administrator in charge and took on chef duties to provide food for the participants. Materials were donated by local businesses Cedarhurst Party and the Sock Factory, and other generous contributions were provided by Crossfit Garden City, VLS Pharmacy and numerous Herricks clubs.
—Submitted by the Herricks Public Schools