By: Rebecca Miller
Children are often some of the best fund raisers around and the Archbold Elementary students definitely fit that description. Every January for the past nine years, they and their parents have risen up to meet the challenge, to honor the memory of a classmate.
Maddy Lambert is the daughter of Dorothy and Russ, the sister to Julia who just graduated from University of Toledo and is a Labor and Delivery Nurse at Toledo Hospital.
A flyer that is used to help raise funds to fight Childhood Cancer explains what happened, “On November 12, 2009, Maddy Lambert was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia at the age of 6.”
“Over the next 3 years, she made numerous trips to Mercy Children’s Hospital for chemotherapy, radiation, spinal taps, and blood transfusions.
“Unfortunately, after three long years of battling, Maddy’s body was tired. The treatment to get her back into remission after two relapses was just too much for her.”
“The medication and treatments meant to cure her cancer caused irreversible brain damage and Maddy slipped into a coma. Maddy entered the gates of Heaven on January 8, 2013 at the age of nine.”
Maddy amazed us everyday with her strength and courage! She inspired us to keep going and have a positive outlook on life.”
“Through the ABC 4 Maddy Foundation, it is our mission to continue to honor Maddy and raise money to fund programs dedicated to helping children and support others who are still fighting.”
Dorothy Lambert, who is in her fourteenth year as the principal of Archbold Elementary School, has been working at the school since 2000. Her husband teaches at the Middle School. (Mrs. Lambert was raised in Williams County and graduated from Fairview High School.)
As they have been a part of the Archbold Schools community for so long it seemed only right to do something in Maddy’s honor there at the schools. Maddy was in the fourth grade when she left this world.
“Every January, to help us get thru the month, we hold the Fundraiser ABC4Maddy which stands for ‘Archbold Bluestreaks Care for Maddy,’” Mrs. Lambert said in a phone interview.
“It originates from when she was sick and everyone was helping. She battled for three years with leukemia. That is how it got started. Maddy was very active in raising money in Relay for Life and we turned it into this.”
The records for the ABC 4 Maddy Foundation show the following: “The ABC 4 Maddy Foundation donates to organizations and families focusing on children and childhood cancer. The foundation does several fundraisers throughout the year to raise money. “
“Our two biggest events are Ladies Night Out and the annual fundraiser in January done at Archbold Elementary. These funds are used to fight childhood cancer and support a memorial scholarship.
Since 2014, the ABC 4 Maddy Foundation has donated: $44,100 – Relay for Life (Through Quality Spuds); $ 44,500-Cure Search; $ 13,900-Make-A-Wish; $1515-Conquer Childhood Cancer Now; $1300-St. Balderick’s; $500-St. Jude’s; $15,350- Local Children Fighting Cancer (Archbold, Delta, Stryker, Fayette); and $15,000-Memorial Scholarship, Totaling: $136,165.00 (As of 2020).”
GIFT CERTIFICATE WINNERS … The winners of the gift certificates from the grade level drawings (PS-4 and an “overall” winner) From left to right, Jovie Nofziger (Grade 4), Andrew Taylor (Grade 4- Overall Winner), Avery Waldfogel (Grade 3), Mrs. Lambert, Malayla Gilroy (Grade K), Parker Livensparger (Grade 2), Wade King (Grade 1), Elliott Gansmiller (Preschool- Not Pictured). (PHOTOS COURTESY ARCHBOLD SCHOOLS)
Mrs. Lambert shared, “This year our January 2021 fundraiser, Roll Over Cancer, raised $4845.00. During the week of January 4-8, students were asked to bring in their donations. Students who made donations received a small thank you gift from me.”
“Also, for every $5 donation, students put their names in a grade level drawing for a chance to win a gift card. If we reached our goal of raising $3000, I would “Roll Over Cancer”.
“We not only reached that goal, we raised the most we have ever raised in the eight years we have done this event. So, on Friday afternoon, January 8th, I “rolled over” cancer by riding through the school on my scooter delivering candy to all the kids.”
The January Fundraiser History has been: 2013-2014 Cash for a Cure Snowball Fight 2096.53; 2014-2015 Stick It To Cancer Duct Taped to Wall 2241.70; 2015-2016 Cancer Stinks Kiss Pig 3316.25; 2016-2017 Smash Cancer Pie in the Face 3428.51; 2017-2018 Clobber Cancer Dodge Ball Fight/Sumo 3794.44; 2018-2019 Blast Cancer Silly String 4195.56; 2019-2020 Slime Cancer Slime 4218.53;2020-2021 Roll Over Cancer Electric Scooter 4845.83; Totalling-$28,137.35
This year the money is going to be split amongst a couple different Childhood Cancer groups, plus two senior scholarships for $1000 each in her name.
The scholarships go to two Archbold High School Seniors each year. They particularly like to help individuals in this area who are battling with childhood cancer, but they have spread the money around quite a bit.
What a great way to teach the children how to care for and about one another. Mrs. Lambert hopes this will continue for years as there are so many needs and helping in memory of Maddy is one way she helps herself, her family and her students get through their grief.
Rebecca can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com
MR. BACIK’S CLASS … Mr. Jason Bacik’s second grade class took a few minutes to pose with a picture with their Principal, Mrs. Dorothy Lambert, before she rolled on to the next class to celebrate the Roll Over Cancer Fundraiser.
