HANNIBAL, NY – “You GET to wear ‘em, in honor of kids who HAVE to.”
That’s the slogan for Paige’s Pajamarama, an event inspired by a Baldwinsville school student who lost her battle to cancer.
Paige Yeomans Arnold was a first grade student at Palmer Elementary School in Baldwinsville when she was diagnosed with leukemia.
In 1997, teachers from the school, along with Paige’s parents, decided to organize a walk/run in Paige’s honor.
Paige’s Butterfly Run was established.
It is now an annual event to raise money for the fight against pediatric cancer and the funding for a college scholarship at Baker High School in Baldwinsville.
In 1999, Paige’s Butterfly Run, Inc., a NYS corporation, formed for fundraising where all proceeds go to pediatric cancer research and Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital.
As part of Paige’s Butterfly Run, schools and businesses are invited to participate in Paige’s Pajamarama.
Students and staff are able to wear their pajamas to school for a donation of any amount to Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital.
Yvette Gigliotti, third grade teacher at Fairley Elementary School in Hannibal, became aware of this event through Paige’s Butterfly Run’s website, www.pbrun.org
Gigliotti decided to bring the event to life at Fairley last year.
In its first year, the event was held for only third and fourth grade students.
“They had so much fun with it, we decided to bring it back this year for the whole school,” said physical education teacher Lynn Halliwell. “With the whole school participating, that presents the opportunity for more than 500 kids to donate and wear their pajamas.”
“We have a history of participating with Paige’s Butterfly Run, a lot of our teachers have done the run before,” Halliwell added.
Halliwell and Gigliotti, with the help of art teacher Jeannette Gillette, music teacher Pam Giovanetti and physical education teacher Scott Leonard organized this year’s event, held on May 21.
The Pajamarama brought in more than $700 this year for the hospital.
Paige’s Butterfly Run will be held on June 6.
For more information or to register, please visit www.pbrun.org
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