Sixth-graders raise money to help fellow student

Havre Middle School's Junior Helpers, when looking for a cause to raise awareness and support for, they decided to stick close to home.

The group of sixth-graders are raising money this semester to help seventh-grade student Dylan Hendrickson and his family fight his Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Hendrickson left Havre for a hospital in Seattle before Christmas and won't be back until the end of the three-month treatment.

Jean Murphy, the middle school librarian and Junior Helpers' adviser, said the students are trying to raise at least one dollar for each of the 587 miles that Hendrickson will travel, when returning from Seattle to Havre.

"It's called 'Walk a Mile in My Shoes, '" Murphy said. "We are hoping to do enough money to be like him walking back. "

Each dollar raised gets a paper soccer cleat on the school's wall. Hendrickson was a soccer player. Every 25th dollar is marked by a soccer ball. Donors can put their name or a message on each shoe or ball.

The helpers had their effort highlighted on the middle school's TV news program Monday. But even without the publicity, the helpers were able to raise more than $200, just asking classmates before school and during lunch.

The money raised will be donated to the Hendrickson family to help cover some of the many costs associated with the treatment, including travel to and housing in Seattle while it's happening.

Murphy said that community members can help if they want, by bringing donations to Havre Middle School.