St. Gregory’s students wear PJs for Ava
TONY BROWN/DAILY FORUM
Third graders in teacher Jamie Casteel’s class at St. Gregory’s School pose in their pajamas during #JamminForAva day, part of a weeklong fundraiser to assist the Ava Blackford family. Ava, age 14 months, has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.
MARYVILLE, Mo. — St. Gregory’s School began a series of events Monday designed to assist young Ava Blackford and her family.
Ava, age 14 months, has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. She is the daughter of Quent and Kari Blackford and the sister of a current St. Gregory’s student.
On Monday, students participating in this week’s #HopeForAva awareness and fundraising effort were allowed to wear pajamas to school in exchange for $1 donations.
Those showing up in their bed-time outfits included Principal Susan Martin and most of teacher Jamie Casteel’s third-grade class.
Other #HopeForAva activities this week include a schoolwide change war during which students in each class will fill jars with currency to be donated to the Blackford family.
On Tuesday, K-8 students will participate in a basketball shoot-a-thon, and heart-shaped lollipops will be available for a $1 donation before and after school.
Students will write down prayers at school on Wednesday for Ava and her family, and on Thursday the youngsters will be allowed to wear ball caps or hats to class in exchange for $1 donations.
The event ends Friday, when St. Gregory’s families will send written greetings to school containing prayers, expressions of hope, monetary donations, and gift cards.
The messages and gifts will be presented to the Blackford family along with money raised during the week.
St. Gregory’s is a parochial school operated by St. Gregory Barbarigo Catholic Church in Maryville.
TONY BROWN/DAILY FORUM
St. Gregory’s School Principal Susan Martin wore her pajamas to work Monday during #JamminForAva day, a fundraiser for the family of a 14-month-old girl who has been stricken with cancer.
