The Haddonfield community pulled out all the stops to support two local students, Jason Garstkiewicz, a 7th grade Haddonfield Middle School student and Colin Hough, a freshman at Haddonfield Memorial High School whom had recently been diagnosed with cancer.
As the difficult news spread across town, a group of parents familiar with Go4theGoal’s Lace-Up 4 Pediatric Cancer campaign reached out to order a few hundred neon yellow shoelaces to distribute to kids around town to show both support for the boys and their families and to raise awareness about pediatric cancer in the community.
“The community’s response was immediate and remarkable. Students held sales in the high School and middle school and in shops around town. Within a week, we sold over 7,000 pair of laces and raised more than $30,000 in lace sales and donations,” said Jean-Anne McMahon, a Haddonfield resident and friend of Jason’s family. “You can’t go anywhere in town without seeing someone wearing them!”
Not surprisingly, this story grabbed the attention of two Philadelphia television news stations, FoxPhilly and CBS 3. Both stations aired a compelling news story, which helped raise awareness about pediatric cancer and G4G’s Lace-Up 4 Pediatric Cancer movement across the tri-state area and beyond.
“Since these two stories aired, orders for laces have flooded Go4theGoal’s website as communities unite in a common cause to raise both awareness and funds to help G4G continue its mission of supporting children battling cancer — and toward the ultimate goal…curing pediatric cancer,” said Beth Stefanacci, Go4theGoal’s founder and executive director.
In Great Falls, Va., the one-year old daughter of Travis Hess, a beloved math teacher and boys varsity basketball coach at Langley High School was recently diagnosed with liver cancer. The boys varsity basketball team heard about the Lace-Up 4 Pediatric Cancer campaign, contacted Go4theGoal and ordered 5,000 pair of laces to sell at several locations McLean and Great Falls, Va. on March 10, to show support for their coach’s daughter and family. Proceeds will benefit both Coach Hess’ family and the Go4theGoal Foundation.
