KV Challenge
The Keith Valley Challenge began in 1977 in memory of Billy Whitehead, an 8th grade student who died of a heart attack at his bus stop. Billy loved playing floor hockey. He was very good at it. In his memory administrators, faculty, staff and 8th grade students sponsored a hockey marathon and pledged to raise money for charity. Since then, it has become the largest event of its kind in the world. Every February 11, Keith Valley holds the KV Challenge, and it is always very exciting.
In February 2013, the event celebrates its 37th year. Through the years, Keith Valley students, in conjunction with the beneficence of the surrounding communities of Hatboro and Horsham raised over $600,000 for a variety of charities. Pledges have been donated to the American Cancer Society, The Arthritis Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Barry Ashbee Leukemia Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, the Ronald McDonald House, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Redland Middle School (devastated by Hurricane Andrew), Montgomery County Association for Retarded Citizens Infant Program, Flyers Wives Fight for Lives Leukemia Fund, Transplant Games/National Kidney Foundation, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation with which they have partnered for several years, helping many seriously ill children and granting their wishes.
Each year a celebrity drops the puck to kick off the start of play with the top two teams, after which a schedule of games unfolds for a period of 17 hours. It now recognized as the largest middle school fundraising event in the world.
Notable Celebrity Guests 2010: Jamie Apody from Action News (WPVI) dropped by, bringing her camera crews. She shot the 8th graders all pepped up for the all-nighter.
2011: Vince Papale (Former Philadelphia Eagle), spoke with the entire school about his story and his struggles.
2012: Keith Russell former Action News (WPVI) now with WRC NBC in Washington DC, showed spirit in the past years challenge, gave his famous 6 ABC 6 count to pep up the whole school.
Read more about this topic: Keith Valley Middle School
Famous quotes containing the word challenge:
“Our challenge as parents is to be patient enough to allow our children to take ten minutes to do something that would take us two seconds. We need to allow our children to develop what I call their “struggle muscle.” This is developed the same way any other muscle develops, through regular exercise.”
—Stephanie Martson (20th century)