GAB/BAB Charity Week
Written By: Lindsay Tayler

This year has been an exciting one so far for the Girls and Boys Athletic Boards at Lawrence Park.  The GAB and BAB have been hard at work planning a charity week in support of Right To Play.  The idea of an Athletic Council charity week was thought up by the members of last year’s councils and has been in the works since January of last year.  The 2009/2010 GAB and BAB are proud to host their first ever charity week in support of Right To Play this January 25 to January 29, 2010. 
                The week will consist of various events run during lunch time, an equipment drive and the main event the 24 Hour Challenge.  The 24 Hour Challenge is the main fundraiser for the week with approximately 80 students.  Each of the students have raised over $100 participate in the challenge.  These students will begin the challenge on Thursday, January 28 at 4:00 pm and will finish on Friday January 29 at 4:00 pm. The goal of the challenge is to keep a ball moving for 24 hours.  All money raised during the week will be donated to Right To Play, an organization that focuses on using the power of sport to help children in underprivileged countries around the world.  Girls Athletic Board Co-President, Brooklyn Glover describes why the council’s chose to support Right To Play, “The charity Right To Play is well known and uses the power of sport to help children in under developed countries.  The motto of Right To Play is similar to that of our council’s motto.  The GAB and BAB also promote the power of sport here at LP.  We are definitely looking forward to supporting Right To Play!”
                To kick off their Charity Week the Athletic Council is holding a school wide assembly on Friday January 22.  The assembly will give the students of LPCI an understanding of how Right To Play helps children around the world.  The assembly will also present the students with a chance to hear from rhythmic gymnast and Olympic competitor, Alexandra Orlando. 
                Although this is the first time the Girls and Boys Athletic Boards are hosting a charity week they have set their fundraising goal high; the councils are looking to raise at least $5000, but hope that they can surpass that goal.  “Although this is the first year we are hosting a charity week we feel that we can definitely reach our fundraising goal.  Our main event, the 24 Hour Challenge will definitely help to raise a large amount of money for the charity and with donations from various local businesses, we should surpass our goal,” says Brooklyn.  The goal of the charity week is not only to help Right To Play, but to help to bring the Girl’s and Boy’s Athletic Boards together.  “The BAB and GAB have always been two separate councils, who rarely worked together.  This year Stephen Trim (BAB vice president) and I along with the GAB co-presidents are working towards bringing the two councils together.  We hope that this charity week will show the council members along with LP just how much of an impact we can have when we work together,” says Mike Kutti, Boys Athletic Board president. 
                The presidents of both the GAB and BAB hope that their efforts this year will lead to a lasting tradition, “After putting in a large effort to run a charity week this year we hope that future Athletic Councils will host a charity week as well,”  says Brooklyn.  This upcoming week looks to be a successful one for the councils, with fun lunch time events and the 24 Hour Challenge. 

We wish the Girls’ and Boys’ Athletic Boards success in their charity week!