SEAMAN - The students and staff at North Adams Elementary School couldn't forget the tragic loss last year of two well-loved teachers, so they decided to do what they could to prevent a similar loss from happening to someone else. The teachers, Sherry Volner, fourth grade, and Sandy Artigas, kindergarten, lost their battles with cancer within six months of each other.
"We dedicated our community project this year to the memory of those teachers," Marla Young, assistant principal wrote to the Defender. "We collected one dollar from each student in our building to raise money for the fight against cancer. By donating to the 'Stand Up To Cancer' organization, we got to name a star after Mrs. Artigas and Mrs. Volner. Many teachers, staff members, organizations and family members also contributed. Our total donation was $3,250."
Sherry Volner taught science and language arts in fourth grade at NAES for nine years. She was a resident of Maysville, Ky. and was survived by her husband, Kevin Volner, and two daughters. She was diagnosed with cancer at an early age and fought it valiantly for 11 years.
"It's fantastic what the students did," Volner said after an assembly at the school in late October. "It goes to show what can be accomplished - how great kid power is.
"We were originally from Missouri, and also lived in Iowa and South Dakota," Volner said. "Sherry loved working here. Even though she had a long drive, she wouldn't consider going anywhere else."
Sandy Artigas taught Kindergarten at North Adams Elementary School for eight years and was diagnosed with the same type of cancer two years prior to her death. She is survived by her husband, Victor Artigas, a daughter and a son.
"It's a blessing to have people who care so much about what Sandy did, and kept tabs on what I was doing," Artigas said. "It's a wonderful family. We came here from Columbus. We came to just the right place. Sandy loved kids, and she had the best time teaching here."
"Both teachers were much loved by the staff and are sorely missed," Young wrote. "Their courage and strength will continue to inspire us for many years to come."
Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) provides funding to cancer research programs. In September, the organization kicked off an international fundraiser which collected more than $100 million by Dec. 3.
According to a progress report from the SU2C Scientific Advisory Committee, as posted at www.standup2cancer.org, 70 percent of SU2C's funds will go to translational cancer research "Dream Teams" - groups of researchers from institutions in the U.S. and abroad who will combine their multidisciplinary expertise to address critical areas in translational cancer research. Translational research begins with basic research and progresses to a patient's bedside. SU2C also offers Innovative Research Grants to early career investigators whose ideas are often not funded by conventional sources.
