The fourth annual St. Paddy’s Day Dash was held this past Saturday at the Plymouth High School.
Under sunny more than 400 runners and walkers came out to help raise funds and awareness for cancer patients in Marshall County.
The St. Paddy’s Day Dash began in 2012 when a fundraiser was done for former PHS grad Eric Day who was recuperating from a brain tumor. The next year a PHS student, Hope Banghart who was suffering from acute myelogenous leukemia was honored with the Dash for Hope. Last year Webster kindergarten student Marcelion “Boo” Arbuckle was the designee. Arbuckle was suffering from a rare aggressive soft tissue tumor.
The 2015 St. Paddy’s Day Dash spokesperson was Plymouth High School Director of Guidance, Aimee Portteus. This summer she was diagnosed with breast cancer and has battled through the treatment while still helping students at the high school.
Funds raised off this year’s Dash will be donated to selected cancer oriented programs in Marshall County including: Hello Gorgeous at C.C. Hair Company, Plymouth Therapeutic Massage, the Cancer Association of Marshall County, various programs at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center’s Plymouth Campus and the Stay Positive Foundation created by Eric Day.
Although there is still money coming in to the fundraiser they are anticipating raising over $5,000. At this point they have sold over 440 Dash T-shirts this year.
