Garden City Teacher Makes a Difference

Stratford School fourth grade teacher Kerry Calvert had an idea to help change the world. After losing her father to cancer and having survived a recent battle of melanoma herself, Calvert wanted to get the district and community involved in raising funds to make a difference.

"We must join together to fight against this horrible disease that is affecting so many friends, family and loved ones," Calvert said.

With the support of the Garden City Teachers' Association (GCTA) and the Garden City community, Calvert's dream became a reality April 17 when district principals, teachers, students, PTA, retired teachers and the community participated in the 1st annual GCTA Race For A Cure Run/Walk.

The run/walk attracted close to 2,000 people and raised $21,225 for the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. A kite-flying event also took place on the day of the race, raising nearly $2,000 for the Uniting Against Lung Cancer "Kites for a Cure" lung cancer research grant program.

Calvert recently presented the $21,225 check to Jacquelyn Ward, a representative from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Annual Giving and Development Center.