Colts LB Gary Brackett Visits with Students at Clay Middle
School
INDIANAPOLIS – The halls of Clay Middle School in Carmel, Ind. were relatively quiet Thursday afternoon as some students finished up their lunch hour and others found themselves immersed in the computer lab. But at 1 p.m. there was a stirring of activity in one classroom as 26 sixth-grade students clapped and cheered to welcome a special guest. However, the guest, Colts LB Gary Brackett, quickly informed the students that he was actually there to applaud them.
For the second year in a row, Clay Middle School was named the top fundraising school in the state of Indiana for the Pennies for Patients program, which benefits The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Through the students' efforts, they collected $12,665 to help fund cancer research and provide resources for families and children dealing with leukemia. Statewide, more than 400 schools participated in the Pennies for Patients program this year, raising more than $340,000.
Within Clay Middle School, the sixth grade math class was the highest producing classroom, which earned them a visit from Brackett. This is the fourth year Brackett has served as a spokesperson for the Pennies for Patients, offering to visit the top two fundraising classrooms in Indiana each year. Later this month, Gary will travel to Fort Wayne, Ind. to congratulate students at Canterbury High School for raising nearly $12,000 this year.
After losing his brother to T-cell leukemia in 2005, Brackett became involved with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and launched his IMPACT Foundation to provide special experiences to cancer patients and their families. Through his story of triumph over tragedy, he continues to reach out to thousands of children and families each year, sharing his story and encouraging them to persevere no matter what obstacles life throws their way.
For more information on the Pennies for Patients program, click here.
To learn more about Gary Brackett's IMPACT Foundation, visit www.garybrackett.org.
