Apex High students create community-wide effort to raise money for cancer research

By: Steve Sbraccia | NBC-17
Published: January 17, 2012
Updated: January 20, 2012 - 8:35 AM

APEX, N.C. --

A trio of Apex High School teens has turned tragedy into something positive.

When cancer touched the lives of people they knew and loved, it devastated them. Then a high school class gave them the opportunity to do something to help others who have battled the disease.

Their class project has now grown into a community-wide movement in Apex and it's just getting started.

The girls have created an army of hope.

"I had a feeling in the back of my mind that maybe they could pull it off," said Apex High principal Matt White.

For the students, a high school marketing class project was more than a chance to show they could sell things.

"We wanted to do something that would leave a mark behind," explained Katie Godfrey, one of the co-creators of the fundraiser.

Each of the three students have been touched by cancer in their lives, so they decided to create the Peak City Gala of Hope to raise $10,000 for the Jimmy “V” foundation.

"I thought it was a pretty high bar," said White, who wasn't sure the project could raise that kind of money.

The trio set out across Apex, trying to convince businesses to join in the fundraiser. At first there was skepticism among the businesses in downtown Apex.

"We'd be sending emails, making calls. If they didn't answer, we'd email and call," said co-creator Megan Gravley.

Despite the turndowns, the trio persisted and their efforts paid off. Suddenly the money started coming in.

"Things just started happening, and we knew we'd made the right decision," Godfrey explained.

The teens say the project now has created so much buzz around Apex that they are being solicited.

"Before, we were knocking on businesses doors. Now, businesses are knocking on our doors trying to help," Gravley said proudly.

The teens spread their efforts beyond Apex, getting Debbie Yow and Coach K to back their efforts. They also got the pair to appear in a promotional video that will be shown at the fundraiser.

They've already raised $14,000, well beyond their $10,000 goal, and the fundraiser is still five days away.

"I'm completely shocked we have surpassed that by so much even before the event," co-creator Sydney Snedeker said.

The church hosting the event is Peak United Methodist Church in Apex. It is also helping to insure the legacy started by the trio will continue with its tithing.

"In future months, every January down the road, they'll give a portion of their proceeds to the “V” foundation for cancer research," Godfrey explained.

The students say they wanted to focus on the impact a community could have on cancer research instead of letting cancer affect their community.

The Peak City Gala of Hope is slated to run from 7 to 10 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22 at the Peak United Methodist Church in Apex.

The event will include live music, both silent and live auctions, and hors d'oeurves.