Published: September 16, 2008 10:29 pm      

Peterstown rallies around former teacher

Fundraisers aim to help pay for much-needed prosthesis

Peterstown residents are giving back to a man who educated their children for 35 years.

Former Peterstown Elementary School physical education teacher Tom Cunningham, known affectionately as “Mr. C,” was forced to retire last year after losing part of his leg as the result of an aneurysm.

Because his insurance, PEIA, does not cover prosthetics, Peterstown Middle School teacher Angela Miller, one of Cunningham’s former students, is helping organize several fundraisers to help him pay the $25,000 needed.

As of Tuesday, Miller said, students, businesses and churches had collected $11,000, but this Saturday’s fund raising activities, dubbed the “Mr. C-athon,” are expected to help reach the goal.

The day will consist of seven events, beginning at 9 a.m. with a community yard sale at the middle school, “tag day” at First National Bank of Peterstown, a bake sale in the Family Dollar parking lot and a car wash at Peterstown Baptist Church.

Each of those activities will run until noon.

At 10 a.m., participants will gather at the middle school for a walkathon, which will follow an approximate mile-and-a-half route leading from the school, past Cunningham’s house and back.

Participation in the walkathon is $20 for adults and $10 for children, with each receiving a shirt donated by area businesses.

Miller said 700 shirts have been printed, and it is hoped that $13,000 will be brought in from that event alone.

The day will also include a pie auction featuring homemade pies and cakes at the middle school from 2 to 4 p.m.

The final event will be a spaghetti dinner in the middle school cafeteria from 4 to 6 p.m. The dinner, which is by donation, will include bread, salad, spaghetti and dessert.

Miller said she hopes to see a good turnout for the “Mr. C-athon.”

“Mr. C has dedicated 35 years to teaching and helping all the kids in the community, and we want to give back to him to show how much he has touched everyone,” she said. “I hope people come out and show him how much they appreciate his efforts and that we’re here for him in his time of need.”

Anyone interested in more information can contact Miller at 304-753-4322.

Donations can be mailed to Mr. C’s Leg Fund, First National Bank of Peterstown, P.O. Box 550, Peterstown, WV 24963.

— E-mail: mjames@register-herald.com