Cape & Islands News

Harwich students raise more than $2,300 for genocide relief

Week-long fast, community center celebration raise funds

Student members of Harwich STAND, with adviser John Dickson, left, gather for a photograph in the midst of their fast to raise money to battle genocide in Darfur and Burma. In the front row, from left, are Rose Sanders, Megan Van Hoose, Amanda DeOlivera and Asha Nagrath. In the back row are Dickson, MacKenzie Hamilton, Alyssa Whipple, Zack Jamous, Robert Pirtle, Meredith Mason, Cody Degroff, Ellyn Schmalzer, Joe Rebello, Anna Herbert, Colin Hamilton and Devon Chiapetta.

Still to come: Darfurpalooza

Last week, from Dec. 1 through 5, Harwich STAND last week completed its second annual fast for genocide victim relief.

As of Thursday, the student group has raised $1,431 (some donations are still coming in) from participants and sponsors of the week-long fast, and $904 from the end-of-the-fast celebration at the Harwich Community Center last Friday, for a current total of $2,335.

For the fast, members of STAND and other students gave up their lunches, snacks, coffees, and/or other items for either a day or a week. STAND members found sponsors for their fasts, and participants donated the money they saved by fasting.

This money will be sent to STAND, a division of the Genocide Intervention Network, where the money will be used to protect Darfuri refugees and villages in Eastern Burma.

Harwich STAND still has one more event for this fund drive: the Darfurpalooza concert being held at the Harwich Community Center on Friday, Dec. 19 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

For a $5 donation, attendees will get to see some of the best local bands: Blind Drive, Chasing Suns, NokSide, The Handsome Pool Boyz, and Epilogue to Sleep. Harwich High graduate Brian Boyle will be presenting the light show. Food will be served.

More information is available by calling Sheila House at 508-430-7836 or by e-mail at shouse@town.harwich.ma.us.