Sibley High Rallies Around Teacher With ALS
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A teacher's impact on a student can last well beyond the classroom.
Students at Henry Sibley High School in Mendota Heights are getting one of those lessons this week during GOFA Week.
GOFA stands for "Give Once For All," and students hold various events to raise money.
Over the last 58 years, the Sibley Warriors have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for neighborhood and global charities.
"It's great to see everyone having so much fun with it and everyone caring about what they're doing," GOFA co-chair Kallman Parry said.
Students assembled 49,000 bags on Tuesday for Harvest Pack, a local organization that helps feed people in the community and around the world.
The second cause took on a more personal tone as students honor one of the most-beloved teachers in the building.
On Monday at GOFA's opening ceremony, Steve Lufkin shared he was diagnosed with ALS. It's the same disease that a former graduate, Mike Winston, died from last year at the age of 29.
"I think on Monday it was tough for a lot of them," Lufkin said. "'Here's somebody that I've seen, I've had and he's telling me he only has two to five years to live, but he's got a smile on his face and he's in here teaching my class every day?'"
ALS, sometimes called Lou Gehrig's disease, is a neurological disease that has no cure.
"There isn't anything right now that can stop it, and that's what we need research for. That's what the funding's for and that's why this means so much to me," Lufkin said.
In the weeks leading up to GOFA, the student council accepts applications for various charities, then selects two or three to donate towards.
This year, the students chose ALS-Therapy Development Institute in Lufkin's honor.
ALS-TDI is a non-profit company that's working towards developing effective treatments for ALS.
While many other ALS groups raise money to help people living with the disease, this organization is trying to create something to slow or stop it.
Through the popularity of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge this last summer, ALS-TDI was able to raise enough money to expand a study for treating the disease.
Last month, Lufkin took part in the study. He will also be the honorary co-chair at the ALS Minnesota Bike Trek.
As Lufkin fights his disease, the students are fighting with him. After all, that is the Warrior spirit.
"There are thousands and thousands of people in the world affected by this and we have one right here in our building," Parry said. "It's something that we, that people need to care about."
GOFA goal this year is to raise $30,000. Students raise the money through various events, like talent shows, a dance and even donating their way out of class.
There are a few ways you can help them accomplish that goal. There is no way to donate electronically to Sibley. You can send a check to the school at the address below:
Henry Sibley Student Council
C/O GOFA
1897 Delaware Avenue
Mendota Heights, MN 55118
Questions can be emailed to student council advisor Athena Gause.
You can also make a donation to ALS-TDI directly through Steve Lufkin's community page. Select "Henry Sibley GOFA Week" under events and donate there.
A final, non-financial way to support GOFA is through an initiative started at Friendly Hills Middle School in Mendota Heights. Students are asking people to make a snow angel and post it to social media with the hashtag #AngelsForALS.
Their goal is to get 30,000 snow angels made, one for each person living with ALS in the U.S.