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As promised, Harrison Elementary School celebrated its success Friday of meeting and surpassing its goal to raise money for second-grader Victoria Montel.
As of Friday morning, $10,050 was raised.
Montel contracted a rare kidney disease and she's been going to Riley's Hospital for Children, Indianapolis, and Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, to deal with the problem. She may need a kidney transplant as one of her kidneys has completely shut down and the other is working at only 50 percent.
Along with her medical problem have come high medical bills. To help the family, her classmates started a "love offering" Feb. 14 with a deadline of Feb. 28. By that date, the school raised $3,231 but decided to extend the deadline in hopes of raising more money. Montel's teacher, Deb McClintock, said she would dye her hair purple if the school raised $5,000 by March 7. Physical education teacher Scott Mehlberg pledged to shave the hair off his head if they raised $6,000. By March 7, the school raised $8,450.97.
More teachers had pledged to dress up in costumes after a parent said they would pledge $1,000 if the teachers did so.
Harrison Principal Randy Polston said by Friday, the school had received donations of $9,550. At the last minute, another parent pledged $500 more.
"We had a great celebration this morning," he said. All teachers dressed up in themes as they had promised.
Mehlberg shaved his hair off in front of all the students. Afterwards, Victoria's first-grade brother Tony gave Mehlberg a big hug.
McClintock then told the students about how her hair was dyed purple.
"They were the main attraction," said Polston of Mehlberg and McClintock.
As part of the program, the first-grade teachers recited a poem written about Montel. The third-grade teachers and students sang a song written for Montel.
Before the celebration got under way, Cub Scout Pack 3772, Harris Cub Scout Bear Den, presented the school with national and state flags, which had been flown over the U.S. Capitol. The troops serving overseas were remembered and the school recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
