Contact: Jenni Brockman
Telephone: 804-443-3357
Fax: 804-443-6781

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SMS Raises Money to Fight Heart Disease

Tappahannock (May 6, 2002)- Students and faculty at St. Margaret's School have collected more than $1600 to fight heart disease and stroke, the two deadliest diseases in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula.

"It's the most money we've ever contributed to the American Heart Association," said Athletic Director Sue Saunders. "We're glad to know that it will be used to help people right here in our community."

  Photo left: - Up to their ears in basketballs for a good cause are St. Margaret's School students Maggie Ransone of Kilmarnock, Brittany Alexander, Sarah Taliaferro of Center Cross and Sarah Weakley of Montross. Students and their teachers raised more than $1600 for the American Heart Association through the Hoops for Heart program.

The girls and their teachers raised money through the Hoops for Heart program co-sponsored by the AHA and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Each participant obtained pledges from friends and family in order to play in a basketball mini-tournament on the St. Margaret's campus.

Top fund-raiser for the third year in a row was boarding student Brittany Alexander of Temple Hills, MD ($1024). Sophomore Sarah Weakley of Montross was runner-up with $370.

Also participating were students Kristina Bethea, Becky Clark of Lively, Neillee Katona of Dunnsville, Lindsay Neist of Tappahannock, Jennifer Stuart, Sarah Taliaferro of Center Cross and Palmer Ware of Dunnsville. They were joined by faculty children Ian McDowell and Daniel Moon.

Student volunteers assisting event organizer Sue Saunders included Weakley, Nicole Manning, Megan McCuan and Maggie Ransone of Kilmarnock. Faculty members David Cook, Cupper Dickinson, Skye Elliott, Kary Fronk, Gayle Hicks and Natalie La Prade, all of Tappahannock, joined their pupils to raise money and have fun.

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