New Prague classes collect $1,867 for ALS

By Patrick Fisher

For JeNean Erickson and her family a recent fund drive for ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, wildly exceeded their expectations as students at two New Prague schools collected $1,867.

The fund drive was at times very personal for Erickson as her father, Merlin Moore, was diagnosed with ALS over the summer. Fourth graders at New Prague Intermediate School and sixth graders at New Prague Middle School took part in the fundraisers.

Erickson’s sister, Julie Smith of Austin, TX, took part in a walk for ALS research with a team she organized. Erickson decided to ask for a few donations from friends and received permission to put collection boxes in the four public schools. Erickson is a physical education teacher at the middle school. She expected to collect a couple hundred dollars - $500 at the most.

Fourth grade teacher Terry Bissell contacted Erickson about doing a drive. The students would drop off whatever loose change they had in a jar. Bissell said the students must have turned out their pockets and checked under a lot of couches. The students and teaching staff ended up collecting about $453.

Erickson had two more surprises as the students and staff of the sixth grade house, Mindwaves, donated $467 and sixth grade house, Team Snoopy, collected $167.

We are here today to thank you from our family