Elle Helmkamp and Amber Wetzel accepting the 2018 School of Hope Award. Photo courtesy of Kim Durst.

The Adair-Casey/Guthrie Center School District recently received statewide recognition for their fundraising efforts in the fight against cancer.

ACGC received the 2018 School of Hope Award at the Relay for Life Leadership Conference on November 3rd for their fundraising for the American Cancer Society. Kim Durst with the American Cancer Society said ACGC raised $7,182 this year, “Through their team fundraising, their Coaches vs. Cancer events in volleyball, football, wrestling, and basketball, ACGC Schools really show a commitment in the fight against cancer and supporting cancer survivors right here in Guthrie County.”

The Adair-Casey and Guthrie Center Elementaries take part in the District’s annual fundraising with events including change wars. Guthrie Center Elementary Technology and Instructional Coach Amber Wetzel shares what Relay for Life means to the students, “Some of the students they’re young, they don’t necessarily understand what cancer is, but there’s a large majority in this school that they personally know someone who has been affected by cancer. So one of the things we do just to make it more personal, we’ve had a Tree of Hope in the past where students can bring in a picture of someone that they’ve either lost to cancer or a loved one or a friend that they know that’s currently going through cancer and we put those (up) just to kind of put a face to the disease.”

The Guthrie County Relay for Life chapter ranked ninth per capita in the nation with $65,684 raised in 2018. The 2019 Relay takes place June 22nd at the Guthrie County Fairgrounds Event Center.