To the Editor:

Have you ever wondered about that house on Main Street with all of the pumpkins in front of it on Halloween? That’s my house, and the pumpkins are a part of a fundraiser called the Great Pumpkin Challenge. Four years ago, when my friend Zoe was diagnosed with brain cancer, she asked everyone to be not an optimist, but an opZOmist. And an opZOmist I became. To show my support for Zoe and her family during this difficult time, I created the Great Pumpkin Challenge. As I begin my senior year at NHS, I believe you can help make the 5th Annual Great Pumpkin Challenge the best year yet!

I’m challenging each of you to “get your pumpkin on” this year. Reach out to your family, friends, neighborhood, church group, sports team, club, or scout troop. Have a great time by carving a pumpkin, dropping it off at my house with a $5 donation, and coming to see all the jack-o-lanterns lit up on Hal-loween! It’s all about supporting each other and having fun!

Pumpkin Drop-Off at 14 Main Street: Thursday 10/29 - Friday 10/30 from 3:30 to 7 pm and Saturday 10/31 from 9 am to 2 pm.

All of the donations from the Great Pumpkin Challenge benefit The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, Paul Newman’s camp for kids living with serious illnesses. Zoe has had a tremendous experience as a camper. The camp is provided free of charge for the families involved, which allows the campers to just be kids again and maybe even, as Mr Newman used to say, “raise a little hell.”

Like I said when I was in eighth grade: We can change the world, one pumpkin at a time. I’m up for that, how about you?

Thank you,

Mackenzie Page

14 Main Street, Newtown         October 14, 2015