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Miller Elementary fourth grade teacher and Student Council Leader Suzanne Hart; Miller fifth grader and TeamConnor Jr. Advisory Board member Caitlyn Coker; TeamConnor program coordinator Andrea Souflee'; Miller fifth grader and TeamConnor Jr. Advisory Board member Nathan Alvey; childhood cancer survivor Charlie White with his mother Lacy White; and Miller Elementary fourth grade teacher and Student Council Leader Alison Staples.

Hunt Elementary, located in Murphy within the Plano Independent School District, collected more than $2,700 for the Coins for Kids with Cancer drive. The fundraiser is designed to encourage kids to learn the importance of giving back and teaches students that their participation can have an impact on children fighting cancer. Coins for Kids with Cancer is a program benefiting the Texas-based non-profit, TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation.

Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children under the age of 15 in the United States. TeamConnor is dedicated to raising awareness, supporting families and funding research and patient programs across the country to find a cure for childhood cancers.

“The students at Hunt Elementary really opened their hearts and filled up canisters with coins,” said Andrea Souflee’, program coordinator for TeamConnor. “In the last two months in North Texas, Coins for Kids with Cancer received close to $5,000 in donations from children wanting to help their peers. Together, we can make big change in finding a cure for childhood cancer.”

Miller Elementary, a neighboring Plano ISD school, recently kicked off their Coins for Kids with Cancer drive. This will be the third year Miller Elementary has engaged in the program, collecting more than $6,000 for childhood cancer in the past two years. To learn more about how to help fund childhood cancer research or make an online donation in honor of your child’s school please visit www.coinsforkidswithcancer.org.

TeamConnor hosts several events throughout the year to raise funds for childhood cancer research, including the III Forks Golf Classic May 4 and 5; National Childhood Cancer Awareness Prayer Vigil and Concert September 20; Color Me Green 5K & Caterpillar Dash October 5; and the Northwestern Mutual Clay Shoot November 6.

Worldwide, a child is diagnosed with cancer every three minutes. In the United States, cancer kills more children every year than AIDS, asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and congenital anomalies combined. Yet, the National Cancer Institute allocates less than four percent of its funds to pediatric cancer research. TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation is dedicated to serving families, building awareness, and raising funds for research to help cure childhood cancer.

For more information on how to impact the lives of those affected by childhood cancer, please visit teamconnor.org or Facebook.com/TeamConnor.