Cookies for Cancer event continued at schools

West Gore School pupils (from left) Lacey Nicholson, 10, Jesse Gemmill, 11, Ayla Geerlofs, Kate...
West Gore School pupils (from left) Lacey Nicholson, 10, Jesse Gemmill, 11, Ayla Geerlofs, Kate Pasco, both 10, and Indi Van Betuw, 11, host the second Cookies for Cancer event at the school. Absent: Adam Gray. PHOTO: EVELYN THORN
Eastern Southland is baking a tradition through cookies.

The second "Cookies for Cancer" event was held recently at West Gore School.

Cookies for Cancer is a fundraising campaign founded by former West Gore School pupils Amy Short, 12, and Jesse Gemmill, 11.

The fundraiser aims to raise money for cancer through the sweet treat of a chocolate chip cookie.

This year Amy, and Jesse’s sister Lily, 12, stepped up and co-ordinated four schools to be involved — St Peter’s College, West Gore School, Blue Mountain College and St Mary’s School.

West Gore School pupils who organised their Cookies for Cancer event said the process of the business was new to them.

Pupil Kate Pasco said they learned a lot about the different jobs for organising selling the cookies.

"We had to do things like making posters for it, creating order forms, baking and other stuff."

The West Gore School pupils raised at least $303 and were still finalising their total.

Pupil Lacey Nicholson said organising the event was inspiring. "It makes me want to create events to fundraise for other things like Crohn’s disease because I have a family member with it."

Pupil Ayla Geerlofs said it was a cool way to be involved. "We were happy to be the ones who got picked to organise the event."

West Gore deputy principal Rebekah Prattley said she was proud of the group.

"It’s awesome that they have put their hands up to continue the fundraising which Amy and Lily started," she said.

A donation day is to be held on October 18 at West Gore School where the schools will come together to officially donate the combined total of the event, plus some money from their Daffodil Day events, to the Cancer Society.

evelyn.thorn@alliedpress.co.nz