On Friday, Dec. 9, KO students and faculty took part in Connecticut Children’s Medical Center (CCMC) PJ Day for the Kids, a statewide mission to support kids battling cancer at Connecticut Children’s hospital in Hartford. This is the fundraiser’s 11th year, and this year KO asked its students and faculty to bring in $2 to wear their pajamas for the day. Many schools and businesses across Connecticut and Massachusetts took part as well.
Since her freshman year, senior Alyssa Temkin has been bringing this fundraiser to KO, asking the KO community to join her in supporting this meaningful cause. Alyssa battles Glycogen Storage Disease Type 1a and is thankful for the doctors and nurses at CCMC who have provided care to her since she was born.
Alyssa has formed a bond with a young girl at CCMC who is being treated for cancer, part of what inspired her to bring this cause to KO. “She is a true inspiration to me and so many others,” she said. “We all are in a battle, and she is so resistant and never gives up.” Alyssa added that she hopes to become a pediatric oncologist in the future, so this mission is very important to her.
Alyssa believes that holding this fundraiser aligned with one of KO’s core values, caring beyond self. “One of KO’s core values is care beyond self, meaning to do more out in your community and this is a perfect example of Wyverns caring beyond self,” she said. “By participating in this event, I hope to show that we as a community can truly make a difference.”
Many KO students enjoyed wearing their pajamas to school to support a greater cause, including junior Kami Tarantino. “I thought that the CCMC PJ day was a great way to bring the KO community together for a good cause to support the children in need at the hospital,” she said. “Personally this experience was important to me as it definitely brought awareness to all the strong children who are fighting cancer, as well as making me feel so fortunate that I can help.”
Junior Diya Mistri agreed, noting the impact the day has on the people in the KO community. “I think PJ Day supports a really great cause and is really meaningful to so many people in the KO community,” she said.
Alyssa set a goal to raise $1,250, but her expectations were far exceeded. The KO community was able to raise $2,207 which will certainly go a long way in supporting this worthy cause.
