BY MELISSA CIFELLI
Staff Writer
FARRAH MAFFAI staff Danielle Veverka, (l), 16, and Patty Veloso kick-box on Nov. 16 at South Brunswick High School to raise money for Trina Pierce, a student with cancer. It was a class with a lot of punch.Members of the National Arts Honor Society at South Brunswick High School hosted a kickboxing fund-raiser Tuesday night to benefit fellow student Trina Pierce.
Trina, 16, a junior at South Brunswick High School, was diagnosed with a rare form of spinal cancer at age 13. The tumor has wrapped around Trina’s spinal cord, putting pressure on her nerves.
As a result, Trina has been left unable to walk, and need of a van to accommodate her wheelchair.
This is when teenagers stepped up to make Trina’s ride a little easier.
Members of National Arts Honor Society began fund raising to help Trina and her family afford the handicap-accessible van that helps Trina move around with ease, according to school nurse Caryl Treiber.
Treiber said the Pierce family was able to purchase a van through J.R. Trading, which allowed the Pierce family to have the van without paying the full amount.
Now student donations are helping to pay for the rest.
According to Treiber, a walk-a-thon last year raised $6,000, and several thousand dollars was donated by the Dardani family through their Haunted Trail and Hayride.
The total cost of the van, Treiber said, is roughly $22,000, with $6,000 still needed in donations.
“We’re very optimistic that we’ll be able to pay off the van,” Treiber said.
Betty Ann Snedicker, faculty adviser for the National Arts Honor Society, said she was amazed at the amount of money raised early in the night solely by student donations. Roughly $500 had been raised by students toward the Pierces’ van, according to Snedicker.
“It’s a fun night for a good cause,” Snedicker said of the event that saw nearly 100 participants. And those who did not join the class still donated money, Snedicker said.
“It’s so good to have kids do good things,” Snedicker said.
Snedicker enlisted the help of her local fitness instructor, Yvette Salva, from Work Out World in East Brunswick to teach the kickboxing class and recruited gym members to participate in the event as well.
Toni Marino, of North Brunswick, said the kickboxing class was something many people liked to do as well because it was for a good cause.
“It’s a wonderful idea,” Marino said.
Caitlin Zadek, 17, a senior at South Brunswick High School and officer of the National Arts Honor Society, said that the fund-raiser had reached upward of $2,000, including a $1,500 donation.
Zadek, who spent the day setting up tables and preparing for the class said she was initially worried that not enough students knew about the event. Zadek, along with other members of the Arts Society publicized the event on the school television network, hoping to spread the word on the event.
“I’m really surprised and happy that people came,” Zadek said.
And although Trina could not make the event, Zadek said, at least she knows that people care.
Treiber said she was impressed by Trina’s ability to reach out and teach other students about her disability.
“I’m amazed at her ability to teach students how she is no different from them,” Treiber said.
“I was so amazed,” Bonnie Pierce, Trina’s mother, said of how much money the kickboxing event had raised.
The van, Pierce said, has made the lives of her and Trina so much easier, especially in bad weather.
Before the family had the van, Pierce said, it would take 20 to 30 minutes to set up a ramp, get Trina into the van, and then take apart the wheelchair.
Now, Pierce said, it take her and Trina, only five to 10 minutes. Many times, Pierce said, Trina can get into the van herself.
Having the van, Pierce said, has made Trina want to go out more, whereas leaving her home before required too much energy.
“It’s given her a lot more independence,” Pierce said.
Pierce said she was touched that students and community member had the event for Trina.
The fund-raiser also featured a contest by the South Brunswick YMCA, which raffled off a free six-month membership and also donated a family membership to the Pierce family.
Those who wish to donate to the Pierce family should contact Betty Ann Snedicker at (732) 329-4044, ext. 3372.