SJA and Tackle Kids Cancer

During the past school year, St. Joseph Academy students, under the leadership of the Student Council, and in cooperation with the National Junior Honor Society and the Home School Association, raised close to $3,000 for Tackle Kids Cancer.

Tackle Kids Cancer is a joint effort by the Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation and the New York Giants to bring awareness of pediatric cancer and raise funds for research.

Last August, the Student Council officers and members were invited to be part of Tackle Kids Cancer television commercials with New York Giants Quarterback Eli Manning. Stephanie Doyle, Ryan Doyle, Adriana Escheik, Kangela Guerrero, Aidan Lavalle, Antonello Schnipp, and Jordan Lavalle participated.

We all arrived at the MetLife Stadium before our 9:30 A.M. call, excited and looking forward to this new experience! There were other groups present – a girl scout troop, some doctors and nurses, and children being treated for cancer. We were asked to act in different scenes, each scene being done over several times until the director was satisfied. In between, we took breaks in the air-conditioned MetLife 50 Club where we were given drinks, snacks, and later, some lunch.

In the afternoon, more groups arrived – a children’s soccer team, high school football and softball teams, and a group police officers. All the groups were invited to the football field for the final shot which was with Eli Manning.

It was a very hot summer day, and we were all melting in the heat. It was all worth it however when, among all the groups present, the St. Joseph Academy students were called out to the front to meet Eli! We took turns shaking his hand as he talked to us about our fundraising activities.

We can hardly wait to watch the commercial on television. In the meantime, we will continue to lead the school in raising funds to bring awareness to, and fight, pediatric cancer.

Jordan Lavalle, President, SJA Student Council