Priceville Elementary Principal Tanya McCain kisses “Chipper” the pig after her students raised over $3,000 for the annual diabetes walk. Chipper was sparyed with cologne before the kiss. | Randy Garrison

PES hits goal and beyond

Randy Garrison

Hartselle Enquirer

“It just gets better every year,” were the words Priceville Elementary kindergarten teacher Sophia Clotfelter used when talking about the fourth annual JDRF Walk at the school. As of last Friday, the school had raised over $3,882 with more donations expected to come in and top $4,000. Clotfelter heads the walk each year.

Jennifer Bentley, Development Coordinator for JDRF, praised the students for making a difference in their school and community for Type 1 diabetes research.

Type 1 diabetes is normally diagnosed in children and young adults and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. With this form of diabetes the body does not produce insulin. The human body breaks down the sugars and starches eaten into simple sugar or glucose, which is in turn used for energy. Insulin is a hormone that the body requires to get the glucose into the bloodstream and into the cells of the human body. Insulin therapy is required to enable those with the disease the ability to live a long and healthy life.

Those with Type 1 have to check their insulin levels 6-10 times per day and require 4-6 shots per day or wear an insulin pump. Clotfelter’s daughter, Anna Catherine, was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease when she was four. Clotfelter also mentioned that North Alabama has a higher rate of newly diagnosed diabetes than most other areas of the United States. There is also a huge rate of children four and under being diagnosed each year.

Principal Tanya McCain offers her thanks to the community for their support, when people synergize and work together a lot can be accomplished. She also mentioned there are no rewards for the donations the children collected. They do this on their own and work very hard asking for donations.

McCain did play a part in increasing the donations this year. She made a promise to her students that she would kiss a pig if they raised $3,000. Well, that was a promise she had to keep. Armed with deodorize and a tube of lipstick, that she applied many times, McCain kissed Chipper the pig on the forehead. Chipper is the camp mascot from Quail Creek and they loaned her out for this occasion. Chipper did not mind all of the attention and seemed to enjoy being around 100’s of children.

With what is “good for the goose being good for the gander,” assistant principal, Daniel Gullion agreed to kiss a goat if the school reached its goal. McCain loaned Gullion her lipstick before he kissed Buddy the goat. Buddy carried around proof of the kiss on his check for the rest of the event. Retired pastor, Ronnie Bullard, owns buddy. Buddy seemed to enjoy the event as well as child after child came by to talk with the goat and rub his head.

Many of those who walked did so in honor of someone with diabetes. Donita Hale’s first grade class walked in honor of their teacher who has the disease. Clotfelter’s family walked in honor of Anna Catherine, including sister Stella, a kindergartener at PES. Others also walked in memory of those who died before a cure is found for the disease.

Clotfelter thanked the community for their love and support, and said it she was honored and humbled to see all who came out in support of the school and JDRF. Donations are still being accepted at the school.

Three PES students were also honored for raising the most money for JDRF.

Jack Sherman raised over $500 and was the winner of the gold medal. The silver medal for second place was awarded to Addison Dumas who raise over $327. The bronze medal was awarded to Owen Wilson, who raised over $220.