Hillview students raise more than $134,000 for Relay for Life

Hillview Middle School students proved once again that age is no barrier to making a big impact. Over four weeks this fall, 245 students across 34 teams raised more than $134,000 for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, far surpassing their $75,000 goal.

For sixth grader Andrew Sutkin — the top individual fundraiser — the event was deeply personal. “I have never had the chance to participate in an event like this before,” he said. “It’s important to me because all four of my grandparents are living with cancer — and this is something I can do to feel like I’m helping. I decided to start my own team and it’s just so cool that our middle school lets us participate in such a big and meaningful event like this.”

Hillview is one of just four middle schools nationwide to host a Relay for Life event, making its students part of a small but mighty group of young fundraisers taking on the fight against cancer.

Throughout the month, student teams got creative with their fundraising efforts, organizing bake sales, washing cars, going door-to-door, and reaching out to friends and family near and far.

Their efforts culminated on Friday, October 23, when students gathered on Hillview’s campus for the annual Relay for Life celebration. Students personalized luminaria bags to line the track in honor of those touched by cancer, serving as a visual reminder of the purpose behind their efforts as they celebrated their collective success.

Beyond the dollars raised, Relay for Life continues to offer Hillview students the opportunity to see just how much they can accomplish when they come together for a cause bigger than themselves. A heartfelt thank you to the broader Menlo Park community for supporting these young fundraisers and helping turn their efforts into such an extraordinary impact.

Photos courtesy of Julie Hartstein