SHENANDOAH HEIGHTS - Seven Shenandoah Valley School District employees literally took the plunge in a swimming pool Thursday as part of a Cold Water Challenge to honor a teacher who recently died from cancer.
Technology coordinator and science and computer teacher Annmarie Carter passed away April 22 at age 49. She had fought breast cancer 10 years ago but was recently diagnosed with bone cancer and a brain tumor. Before coming to Shenandoah Valley, where she taught for 14 years, Carter was a biology teacher in the Mahanoy Area School District, also for 14 years.
The event was held at the Shenandoah Heights home of Michael and Helene Creasy, who is a school board member. The swimming pool with water at about 50 degrees was ready to go for the following participants: district Superintendent Stanley G. Rakowsky, high school Principal Phillip Andras, high school Vice Principal Michelle Zinkus, elementary school Vice Principal Jessica Savitsky, Business Manager Anthony Demalis Jr., school psychologist Leslie Matus and maintenance supervisor David Lukashunas.
Attending the plunge Thursday was Carter's husband, Gerald Carter, Phinneyville, and their children, Joshua, Elizabeth and Dorothy. Gerald Carter was grateful for the concern and consideration by school district personnel.
"We're excited for everything they did over here," he said. "They did so much for the whole family. I can't say enough about the Shenandoah Valley faculty. They went over and above what I could imagine. They brought food to the house every week, and they were constantly in contact with us. The thing that touched me the most was when my wife was in the hospital and it was my girls' birthday. I didn't have the chance to get them a cake and when I got home, there were two cakes there. They did so much for us. This is something that my wife would be really proud of."
The challenge began when former teacher Barbara Boyer challenged Andras on Facebook to do the Cold Water Challenge if she donated $100 for herself and another $100 for her former Shenandoah Valley student council members. The donations would go to the American Brain Tumor Association in Carter's memory.
Andras agreed to the challenge, but only if at least $500 was donated.
"I said to (secretary) Anne Kayes that I'll go in, but my price is a lot more than $100," Andras said as he sat near the pool. "I said I won't even go near a pool unless it's $500. They had that money the next morning in cash."
Shenandoah Valley employee Leslie Gilroy, who is involved with the school's Relay for Life team, donated $475 from the Relay account for Andras to jump. Lukashunas added $125 to meet the challenge and then some.
Kayes said the donations just took off from there.
"I sent out an email at 8 a.m. April 25 (to see) if anyone would like to donate money to the American Brain Tumor Association in honor of Mrs. Carter," Kayes said. "By the end of the day, our total pledges were $2,110."
"They're shooting for $4,000," Andras said.
The pledge amount as of Thursday was $3,775, according to Lukashunas.
Before the plunge, Rakowsky walked over to the pool and dipped a few toes into the water to verify that it was cold.
The jumpers lined up at the 6-foot side of the pool and each dove in individually for the first time. After the first jump in the pool, Rakowsky was asked why everybody was eager to be part of the event to honor Carter.
"We had 3,700 good reasons to do it," Rakowsky said in the pool.
Kayes said there are other ideas to remember Carter in a more permanent way at a local level.
"We are selling 'Team Carter' shirts," Kayes said. "Tony Pytko, who is the adviser of student council, asked what we wanted to do with the money. We would like to get a Christmas tree for her in the park (Legion Memorial Garden). Her birthday was December 22. We would like to light it up every year. Also, we'd like to put some beautiful trees in our circle (at the high school entrance) that would bloom every spring and remind us of her. I also believe her family is setting up a scholarship fund."
Kayes added, "I'm so proud of our administration for what they did today. I think to get all these people together shows how much we loved Annmarie and how much we miss her."