Making Change Count - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Making Change Count

Making pennies count.

...any kind of change, for that matter, can help make a change for those fighting cancer.

Pennies for Patients has raised millions nationwide over the last 20 years and for the last 10 years, Burlington Elementary School has been a top fundraiser in North Dakota.

As of last Friday, Burlington students raised $6,800.

In an effort to make the last week for fundraising count, basketball coach Shawn Kuhnhenn and wrestling coach Aaron Huck promised a sumo wrestling dual.

Para-educator Terry Van Berkom says fundraising really took off in anticipation of the event and she says the school may still make the $9,000 goal.

(Terry Van Berkom, Burlington Elementary School Para) "Everybody knows someone who has cancer. We just think it's a great cause. We raise money for all the kids on the posters for leukemia and lymphoma and it's really close to our hearts."

Donations were collected through the month of February, then donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to help local patients.

A final total will be counted tomorrow.

And for those wondering --- Aaron Huck won the wrestling match --- the best out of three rounds.