A meaningful gesture

Moved by grief at the news that a popular teacher had cancer, a group of students searched for a way to help.

By MICHELE MILLER, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published September 19, 2002

LAND O'LAKES -- When Linda Brocato was diagnosed with bone cancer soon after school let out in the spring, the folks at Sanders Memorial Elementary reached out to the popular fifth-grade teacher and asked what they could do to help.

"The only thing she asked for was our prayers," said assistant principal George Papaemanuel.

That wasn't a problem. Mrs. Brocato and her husband Frank are well known in the local religious community, especially since establishing Prepare His Ways Ministries Inc., a nonprofit organization that minsters to area clergy. "She's got thousands of people praying for her, Papaemanuel said. "She's on prayer lists at churches all over the place."

Still, there were a few youngsters who wanted to do something more.

Dylan McCarthy, Morgan Keppel and Chelsea Haitz learned of Mrs. Brocato's plight during the summer. None were students of Mrs. Brocato, but they had heard from others what a great teacher she was and wanted to help.

"She's really nice and a lot of people know her," Morgan said. "We just felt sorry and we really wanted our teacher back at school."

"I should have had her (for a teacher) this year," Chelsea said. "I don't know her well, but from what my brother said she's a really nice teacher."

"She's the kind of person who would do a million things for you and not ask for anything back," Dylan said. "When I heard about her having cancer I cried for about a day and a half."

So a few weeks ago, the three best friends made an appointment to see their assistant principal.

"Once in a while a student asks to see me," Papaemanuel said. "Usually it's about a problem in the bus or the cafeteria. Once in while it's a good idea type thing."

Coins for Cancer, a schoolwide fundraising drive for Mrs. Brocato and cancer research, is one of those good idea type things, Papaemanuel said.

"It was magical -- one of those things you can't say no to."

Mrs. Brocato, 53, who isn't teaching but is now feeling well after undergoing treatment, also had a hard time saying no. After some thought, she agreed to let the students raise money, especially after her husband pointed out that this would be a good life-learning experience for the students.

"She cried for a while," Papaemanuel said. "She told me she really felt blessed."

Through Oct. 26, when the fundraising drive ends with a car wash, the folks at Sanders Memorial Elementary are asking those who can to donate their spare change.

Other activities planned are a silent auction and a "guess the weight of the Skittles" contest. The students will also set up a booth at the PTA Chicken Dinner to be held on Oct. 10.

The goal is to raise $1,500, Dylan said.

"Half will go to cancer research and half will go to Mrs. Brocato," he said. "Teachers don't get paid much and I know she's going to need help paying off those medical bills. She can use the money for that or donate it if she wants to."

Dylan, Morgan and Chelsea also hope to get a donation of flowers to be delivered along with the money they raise.

"We figure the flowers will cost about $50 for a nice bouquet and we really don't want to use the money we raise for that," said Morgan, who also likes to help her dad, Kris Keppel, with his Rotary Club activities. "I'm just an average kid who likes to help people."

The three already have support from their parents and others at the school. Soap and buckets have been donated for the car wash and the newly formed Dad Club has signed on to cook hot dogs at the event. Teri Hillis, the school bookkeeper, is also helping, "making sure everything they're doing is okay with the school board."

"We're trying to let the kids do it all by themselves," she said. "We're just making sure what they're doing is plausible."

"I'm glad we're doing this. It's a good service project," Chelsea said. "We're just praying that she make it through this."

Dylan, who helps out in a kindergarten classroom during his spare time and his known for starting a neighborhood cleanup club called the "Trash Brigade," said he hopes to reach the $1,500 goal and then some.

"Anybody can donate," he said. "Every penny helps, and if we can we'll expand this. The money we're raising for cancer will help, and hopefully Mrs. Brocato is going to be cured."

-- Editor's note: Those who want to donate funds should make checks payable to Sanders Memorial Elementary School, 5126 School Rd., Land O'Lakes 34639. Please write "Coins for Cancer" in the memo space. To donate services and items for the silent auction, call the school at (813) 794-1500.

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