Become An OpZOmist!

To the Editor:

I’m a 14-year-old ninth grader attending Newtown High School. Last Halloween I organized the Great Pumpkin Challenge of Newtown because my longtime family friend Zoe McMorran was diagnosed with brain cancer. Zoe is 11 now, and is currently doing chemotherapy. Zoe continues to heal, but her treatment is very expensive. Zoe and her family focus on opZOmism at a time as difficult as now.

My idea is for a fundraiser, The Great Pumpkin Challenge, to take place at my house, 14 Main Street this Halloween. I would again like to create an enormous display of jack-o-lanterns, which would be exciting and fun but at the same time raise money. I am asking for $5 per pumpkin to display all of the great pumpkins stacked high on Main Street on Halloween night! Please drop off your precarved pumpkin(s) and donation at 14 Main Street on Saturday and Sunday, October 27 and 28, from 10 to 5.

Half of the proceeds are going to Zoe’s fund to help pay for her treatment. The other half will go to the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp — Paul Newman’s nonprofit organization for seriously ill children.

I encourage everyone to participate in the challenge, but if you’re unable to carve a pumpkin, you can visit greatpumpkinchallenge.org to buy a virtual pumpkin! You can also “like” us on Facebook, Great Pumpkin Challenge of Newtown, for updates.

Newtown is a very supportive town, as evidenced by people buying their pumpkins from local farms, participating in the Newtown Lions Club Great Pumpkin Race on October 20, and finally The Great Pumpkin Challenge of Newtown at my house. Our goal is to bring the community of Newtown together with this exciting new tradition.

My challenge to each of you is this: will you “get your pumpkin on,” and become an opZOmist? We can change the world, one pumpkin at a time!

Sincerely,

Mackenzie Page

14 Main Street, Newtown                                             October 2, 2012