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(HOWARD, SD) – Howard High School students are gearing up to raise funds and awareness for their fourth annual “Tigers Step Up 2 Cancer” campaign. Throughout the months of January and February, students will be leading fundraising efforts with the Horizon Health Foundation to benefit Miner County patients of Horizon Health Care undergoing cancer treatment and to help with related expenses. Previously this event has been held in October but was moved later in the school year to highlight the winter sports programs and give them an opportunity to participate.
A signature “Tigers Step Up 2 Cancer” t-shirt will be available again this year, featuring a new design and they will be orange. However, t-shirt sales will only be available online to limit in-person contact at sporting events and area businesses. Shirts will be available for $10.00 from January 4 – February 8 through FoxPromo and can be purchased online at: https://horizonhealthfoundatio.... Shirts will be available for pick-up at the Larry Holland Wrestling Tournament on February 13 and the home boys’ basketball game versus Canistota on February 16. If you are unable to make it to one of these events, the shirts will be available at the Horizon Health Foundation. In the event that both of these events would be postponed or cancelled, a special pick-up day will be announced at the Horizon Health Foundation. There will also be a shipping option available at the time of order.
The shirts are sponsored by several area businesses to ensure that all proceeds go directly towards this campaign.
Rusty’s Food Store of Howard will be the matching campaign sponsor this year. For each donation received, Rusty’s will be matching the gifts during the month, up to a total of $1,250 – which means double the impact for Miner County. In 2019, students exceeded their goal and raised a total of $8,200 (which included a match from Kibble Equipment) donated to the Horizon Health Foundation’s Miner County Cancer Care fund. Over the past three years, a total of $21,466 has been raised through this campaign.
“We have been honored to be a part of the Tigers Step Up 2 Cancer program since the beginning,” said Rick Hiltunen, Rusty’s Food Store owner. “It has been exciting to see the program grow each year and the students’ efforts to support their own community members. We are pleased to be the matching campaign sponsor this year and challenge the students to continue reaching their goals.”
All of the money raised from the Tigers’ campaign will again be directed to the Horizon Health Foundation. Horizon Health Care cares for patients in Miner County affected by cancer and will work with the Foundation following the event to disburse funds accordingly. The money raised to date has helped 51 local patients to receive gas cards, grocery gift certificates, and cancer screenings.
“The community should support TSU2C because it is a great way to give back to a town that has given so much to each and everyone one of them,” said Abby Connor, Howard High School Senior and Student Council President. “All of the profits that are made during this fundraiser go back to those in need in our community. By supporting TSU2C, everyone involved feels the accomplishment of giving back to a community that continues to support them through anything.”
The Howard students would like to recognize and thank the following sponsors for their generous support to date: American Bank and Trust, Corner Pantry, Howard Physical Therapy, Rivers Edge Bank, Rusty’s Food Store (matching gift), Schwader Farms, Whispering Winds, and FoxPromo.
The Horizon Health Foundation was formed to pursue the mission of inspiring and empowering patients by providing funding for accessible and affordable health care now and into the future. For more information or to make a contribution to the “Tigers Step Up 2 Cancer” campaign and have it matched dollar for dollar, please visit http://www.horizonhealthfounda... or call 605.772.4553
About Horizon Health Care
For over 40 years, Horizon Health Care has been providing personalized, affordable, high-quality medical, dental and behavioral health care through a rural, community-based network in South Dakota. Horizon is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that serves the medical, dental and mental health care needs of South Dakotans in rural, medically underserved areas through 110,000 patient visits annually in 32 community health centers in: Aberdeen, Alcester, Bison, Bryant, De Smet, Eagle Butte, Elk Point, Faith, Fort Thompson, Howard, Huron, Isabel, La Plant, Lake Preston, Martin, McIntosh, Mission, Plankinton, Wessington Springs, White River, Woonsocket, and Yankton. For more information please visit www.horizonhealthcare.org.