The homecoming parade at Concord High School has always been kind of a big deal.
And this year might be the biggest deal of them all. Like every year, the class floats will be led down South Fruit Street from the school to Memorial Field by the Crimson Tide band in those nifty band costumes. King and queen nominees will be on display, and we also can’t forget about all those zany high school students doing, well, just about anything to show off their school spirit. So it’s really about the best way to properly kick off the school year.
That’s until some members of the Concord school community got together for a little brainstorming. Ever since Concord High Principal Gene Connolly recently revealed his ALS diagnosis, the staff and students have been doing all they can to help raise awareness, as well as money, for the ALS Association. Many have done the ice bucket challenge, pouring buckets of cold water and frozen cubes over their heads, to help fund research. But this was something they wanted to do to honor their leader. And since Connolly doesn’t want his diagnosis to interfere with the educational experience during the school day, those involved with the planning decided to partner up with the annual homecoming parade on Sept. 27.
“A lot of people come home for the homecoming game so we thought it would be the perfect way to incorporate our walk and show our support,” said Lisa Lamb, Connolly’s administrative assistant for the last eight years.
So for just $20 – that’s just one minimal withdrawal from the ATM – you can do your part to help in the fight against ALS. With your $20 donation (and just to be clear, you are allowed to donate much more than that if you’re so inclined), you will get a Connolly Tough T-shirt and a spot in the parade.
“It’s a walk to defeat ALS. To raise some funds for ALS,” said Sue Farrelly, one of the organizers and the program director for the 21st Century Capital City Community Learning Centers at Concord High School. “It allows our community to do something to help.”
The shirt’s front has a picture of the Tide’s faithful leader, with Connolly Tough spelled out in classic Concord High red. It uses the same C that is on the side of your defending Division I champion football team’s helmet (the same team that will be hosting Manchester Central at 1 that afternoon, and the same squad that Connolly has handled the announcing duties for over the last five years.) And on the back, it reads “Kick it in the ALS,” a well-crafted statement (taken with the approval of the ALS Association) to use ALS in place of a word that is usually frowned upon in a school environment.
“He was very much on board with it,” Lamb said of Connolly. “I think it makes him feel really good that people want to help.”
If you have plans that day or happen to be dealing with a broken leg, sprained ankle or anything else that would prevent you from making the not-so-long walk from the staff parking lot to Memorial Field, though, you can still make a difference. The goal is to not only have everyone in the walk wear their Connolly Tough T-shirts on Sept. 27, but for people all over Concord to rock the gear that Saturday.
“We’re hoping to get the community involved,” Farrelly said. “Make it a real community event.”
As of last week, Lamb had received an order of 500 T-shirts, but there’s plenty of time to order more. And that’s where all of you come in. The more shirts that are bought in the weeks leading up to the walk, the more opportunity there is to place another order – and raise as much money as possible.
“I placed what I would call a small order,” Lamb said. “I’m hoping that’s just the first order.”
There will be a limited supply available the day of the walk, but organizers would like anyone interested in participating to get their shirts ahead of time. The shirts will be available at the school, and on display on the Bravo Boutique mannequins downtown. If a mannequin can shell out $20, don’t you think that you could too?
“It’s our hope that anyone who marches with us has the shirt on,” Farrelly said.
The walk will begin at 11 a.m., but those walking should be there at 10:30 a.m. to get set up.
Call Lamb at 225-0800, ext. 6001, or email Lin Moulton at lmoulton@concordnhschools.net to place your T-shirt order or for more details. Lamb will also be at the school from 6 to 8 p.m. each Thursday in September for those who want to get a shirt but can’t make it during the school day.
All the money raised from the T-shirt sales will go directly to the ALS Association.
