Editor’s Note: Student Union’s weekly columns are a joint effort of the region’s high schools, the Bangor Daily News and Acadia Hospital. This column was written by Schenck High School students. Their adviser is Charla Lowell

Have you ever wanted the chance to contribute to lifesaving research? Have you ever wanted to give your spare change a purpose? Recently, students at Schenck High School were granted the opportunity to do both. Through a program called “Pennies for Patients,” students were able to donate their pennies and other spare change to the Massachusetts Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society aids in the cause of research and care of patients with blood-related cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma. The society originally was founded because blood-related cancers were found to be the No. 1 killer disease of children. Funds raised through the programs help improve the quality of life of patients and their families affected with these diseases. The Massachusetts Chapter is exclusive to and benefits patients within the states of Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. However, the society’s main goals could not be reached without support programs such as “Pennies for Patients.”

In 1995, the North Carolina Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society founded the “Pennies for Patients” program. During the months of February and March, collection containers are placed in each classroom of participating schools. Students are encouraged to place their spare change in the containers for a three-week period. During the process of donating, students within the school will vie for prizes, which in turn creates an environment of healthy competition between the classrooms.

The top fund-raising classroom in every school wins a pizza party sponsored by Domino’s Pizza. The Hood ice cream truck makes a stop at the top fund-raising school and distributes frozen confections to the students. Also, schools that raise a substantial amount of money become eligible for prizes that include gift certificates for school supplies such as computers, electronics and sports equipment.

At Schenck High School, the stakes were raised with the “Pennies for Patients” drive. The grade that raised the most money in its collection containers received points toward Winter Carnival Games. The sophomores came in first, raising $194.75, followed by the seniors with $51.24, the juniors with $15, and the freshmen with $13.91, which comes to a grand total of $274.91 of spare change.

Guidance counselor Charla Lowell, who ran the program in the school, was pleased with the results. Junior Matt Fleming was also impressed with the program. “I think that Pennies for Patients is a great way to help sick children. It is also fun to compete against other classes within our school. ‘Pennies for Patients’ is a good cause.”

Through something as little and seemingly insignificant as a penny, lives can be saved, the students of Schenck High School found in the last three weeks. All the while students reveled in the spirit of competition to come together and support the real winners: the patients of the Massachusetts Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. For more information, check out the Web Site, www.schoolandyouth.org.

Schools participating in Student Union include Hampden Academy, Brewer High School, John Bapst Memorial High School, Old Town High School, Mount Desert Island Regional High School, Stearns High School in Millinocket, Nokomis Regional High School, Hermon High School, and Schenck High School in East Millinocket.