The Parent Teacher Association for Pine Plains’ elementary schools — Cold Spring Early Learning Center and Seymour Smith Intermediate Learning Center — held a color run on Sunday, June 8, to raise funds for two students, Kate Ryan and Wren Wamsley, who face major medical challenges.
The event drew 135 participants who began their run at the Pine Plains ballfields. At the end of the 1.5-mile route, volunteers showered them with a bright spectrum of colored powder. Afterwards, the students played a friendly game of kickball against a team of teachers and parents, coordinated by Seymour Smith physical education teacher Jeremy Weber.
Kate, who is in the fifth grade, will begin middle school in September. Three months ago, she was diagnosed with B-ALL, a type of leukemia that occurs more commonly in children.
She travels to Albany several times a week for chemotherapy and treatment. The trips are a significant expense for the family on top of medical bills, said her mother, Wendy Ryan, who added that she is the only family member able to drive her.
Wren, who is in the second grade, suffered a series of strokes earlier this year that made it difficult for her to move the right side of her body. Treatment and physical therapy have helped her regain some strength, and she was able to attend the event with her family.
“We will have a long road of rehab to get her to 100% but we didn’t know if we would see her full smile again this time last week and now we can’t get her to stop smiling,” said her parents in a statement shared with the community following the event. “This girl (and us) feel all the love and support and it is literally moving her,”
The fundraiser raised $3,000, surpassing its goal of $1,000, according to PTA President Megan Brenner.
“I thought if we get 50 people and $1,000, great,” she said. “The fact that we got this many is amazing.”
The event also hosted a silent auction of a variety of baked goods donated by the residents and local cafes.
If you wish to make a donation, you can do so here and here.