Published: November 21, 2008 11:54 pm         

Students throw themselves into pottery fund-raiser

DUNLAP, Ind. — For Jackie Jenkins and her friends, choosing to volunteer at the 10th annual Concord High School Potter’s Marathon for Riley Hospital for Children held a bit more meaning this year than it has in previous years.

The marathon, which involves 24 hours of non-stop pottery-making to raise money for the children’s hospital, kicked off at 6 p.m. Friday at the high school and will continue through 6 p.m. today.

According to Jenkins, a junior at the school, this year’s event is particularly meaningful do to the fact that she was recently diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, a form of cancer in the lymphatic system, and has been receiving treatment at Riley Hospital for the past few months.

“I’ve been doing this since my freshman year when our teacher, Mr. (Bob) Bieber, asked me to try it out,” Jenkins said. “Now I’m kind of part of Riley Children’s Hospital, so it just seems like even more of a reason to give back this year.”

Bieber, who has organized the event the past 10 times, came up with the idea for the marathon back in 1999 as a way to both raise money for the hospital and foster awareness of the arts in his community.

“I was actually sitting at a stop light one night shortly after being hired at Concord, and I was speaking to the Lord about what he wanted me to do with the art department,” Bieber said. “There was a Marathon gas station across the street from where I was stopped, and that’s where I got the idea for the Potter’s Marathon.

“After that, I went home and jotted down some ideas, and the next day I made the presentation to school administrators, colleagues and a few students, and they gave me the go ahead,” he said.

Beginning with just 10 students back in 1999, the event has since grown to include more than 60 students and is the nation’s largest 24-hour fundraiser, having raised more than $88,000 for Riley Hospital for Children to date.

“I’m just amazed at how it’s grown. I never dreamed — like anyone who starts something from the ground up — that it would have turned into something like this,” Bieber said. “Just last year the team raised $26,000 in one night for the event. It was just unbelievable. I was overwhelmed.”

Bieber said he is hoping for an even more successful event this year, but added that any amount raised is a success story in the end.

“Even if we only raise $10, that’s still $10 more for Riley Hospital,” Bieber said. “We need to remember that this isn’t about breaking records or prestige. We have to keep in mind who this is for, and what this is all about.”

Even so, Bieber said this could be a landmark year for the program due to the fact that if the team raises at least $15,000 over the course of the weekend, the event will have raised more than $100,000 for Riley Hospital.

“That’s kind of a milestone for us,” Bieber said.

Bieber noted that the announcement of Jenkins’ cancer really put a face to the need for events such as the Potter’s Marathon, and really helped the students to put forth their best effort to make the event a success.

Many of the students even chose to wear bandanas throughout the event in solidarity with Jenkins.

“She’s been going through chemotherapy, so she lost all of her hair, so I talked to the administration and they allowed the kids to wear bandanas to show their support for her,” Bieber said.

Jenkins said the support of the students has been overwhelming, adding that she is glad her experience has helped to bring more people in to participate in the event.

“The turnout is great, because it’s kind of helped me, and I think me being here helped motivate them too,” Jenkins said. “I’ve been down to Riley and seen what these kids are going through, so I think it helped give them a mental picture of what we’re really working for.”

Friday’s kickoff was the second for Jenkins’ best friend, Jenny Hershberger.

“I was in it last year too,” said Hershberger, a junior at the school. “It’s just a really good fundraiser, and with my best friend just having gone through cancer treatment, that’s really made it an even more important and memorable event for me.”

Junior Sheila Tomasbi, also a second-year participant, agreed.

“It’s such a fun activity, and it’s just great to know that all the money we raise goes to Riley,” Tomasbi said. “Last year I didn’t stay overnight, so this will be my first time getting to see how tough it really is.”

Bieber indicated that all pottery thrown during the event will be collected and sold during a special event to be held before the school breaks for the Christmas holiday.

“The sale goes on right before our Christmas break,” Bieber said. “Normally we sell out in two days. We hardly ever have a chance to advertise to the public. We put it out, and it’s gone.”

For more information on the event or to make a contribution, contact Bob Bieber at 875-6525, ext. 86209.