Middle School Student Steps Up to Raise Funds for Charity

Boston, MA- One local eighth grade student is anything but average, devoting her time to fundraise for an important cause. Fourteen-year-old Sydney Keen, a student at Coolidge Middle School in Reading , MA keeps active volunteering along with her involvement in various school activities; yet this winter she took on a mission larger than anyone could have imagined. On February 2, 2008 the American Lung Association held their 3^rd annual Race Up Boston Place, a stair climbing event to support lung health, specifically lung cancer. "My grandfather passed away from lung cancer two years ago, so when I found out about this event and that it would help raise awareness about lung cancer I was excited to help in any way," said Sydney.

Sydney 's mother works as a Medical Coder at the Lahey Clinic, which is how this event was brought to Sydney 's attention, through Carla Lamb, MD, the Co-Director of Interventional Pulmonology at the Lahey Clinic. Dr. Lamb had registered to participate in the 82 flight climb, and was working hard to fundraise and train for this event, and Sydney decided to help. "She went door to door throughout her grandfather's neighborhood telling people about this event, and asking them to donate to the cause," said Dr. Lamb. "She brought in $400.00 that was donated to my fundraising efforts through this process." Sydney 's efforts did not stop with door to door asks, she also approached her school's student council, and asked them if they could somehow help. The student council helped by changing the name of the upcoming school dance to Dance for a Chance for a Cure, and added an additional $1.00 to the price of each ticket which would then be donated. Sydney was able to give Dr. Lamb an additional $250.00 towards her efforts in climbing up One Boston Place.

" Sydney is a really amazing girl. She worked hard, and really did an incredible job helping to bring awareness to this cause," said Dr. Lamb.  Through the combined fundraising efforts, Dr. Carla Lamb has raised over $3,800.00, making her the highest fundraiser for the 2008 Race Up Boston Place event.  Dr. Lamb also did an excellent job during the event, completing the 82 flight ascent in 7 minutes, 43 seconds, placing her 103 out of 393 climbers.  The American Lung Association brought in over $107,000 through this event, having a total of 456 participants register, many of whom have a personal connection to the American Lung Association or lung cancer. Donations can be made for this event or in general by calling (781) 890-4262, or visiting www.lungma.org.