Allendale Students Donate to Worthy Cause

Published February 3, 2011

It's better to give than receive. That's what students at Allendale Elementary School in Spring Hill learned at this year's Winter Party. Rather than purchasing gifts for each other, students in Carrie Utterback's fourth grade class donated $375 to a non-profit organization called Gabe's Chemo Duck Program, which provides education and comfort to childhood cancer patients.

The Chemo Duck Program was founded by Longview Elementary School Teacher Assistant Lu Sipos and her son, Gabe, who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of one. Lu wanted to give Gabe a companion who could help him through his fight with cancer so she made the very first Chemo Duck.

Gabe finished treatment in 2003 and has been cancer free ever since. His days are now spent attending classes at Allendale and rubbing shoulders with movie stars. In 2010, Gabe appeared alongside Gwyneth Paltrow and Tim McGraw in the movie Country Strong.

Utterback says she's proud of how the students at Allendale have rallied around Gabe and supported this worthy cause. "The amount of money they brought in is absolutely astonishing," said Utterback. "I am so happy they made the choice to give to such a worthwhile cause."