To the Editor:

I wish that I could take my friend Zoe’s cancer away, but that’s not how it works. What I can do is support her courage and strength. She inspires me and I am committed to making a difference in her life through celebrating friends, family, community and benefitting the lives of other kids going through difficult situations.

I’m a sophomore at NHS and have lived in Newtown my whole life. I love the people here and I love our town’s traditions; one of my favorites being Halloween on Main Street. Two years ago, I created the Great Pumpkin Challenge to help support my 12-year-old friend and to have fun.

I live on Main Street and we get thousands of trick-or-treaters for Halloween. I’m again asking everyone to have a good time carving a pumpkin and bring it to my house the weekend before Halloween with a $5 donation. The jack-o-lanterns will be stacked high on Halloween night for all of Newtown to see; it will be awesome! This year all of the proceeds will go towards Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a summer camp that offers kids with serious illnesses “a different kind of healing.” Zoe had an amazing experience at Hole in the Wall.

Pumpkin Drop Off: 14 Main Street, 10/26 & 10/27, from 10 am – 5 pm.

Can’t make it? No worries! I have a website where you can buy a virtual pumpkin: www.greatpumpkinchallenge.org

I'm challenging everyone to help Halloween burn brighter on Main Street this year. We can change the world, one pumpkin at time!

Thank you,

Mackenzie Page

mackenzie@greatpumpkinchallenge.org

14 Main Street, Newtown                    September 30, 2013