Going To The Wall To Raise Money

By Eliza Hallabeck

Newtown High School science teacher Eric Ekman volunteered to be taped to the wall outside the school’s cafeteria on Monday, April 30, to help the school’s Peer Leadership Club raise money to donate to the National Organization For Rare Diseases, based out of Danbury.

Starting with the first lunch wave of the day, students, faculty, and staff had the option of purchasing a piece of duct tape or more to help “stick” Mr Ekman to the wall.

By noon, Mr Ekman said he was starting to feel a “little bit tight,” but that he could still, “wiggle a bit.” The effort continued until 1:15 and culminated by removing a chair Mr Edman was standing on to see if he was stuck to the wall.

According to NHS Peer Leadership Club member Ryan Sholtes, the National Organization For Rare Diseases aims to help people suffering from those diseases.

NHS Peer Leadership Club Advisor Bret Nichols said NHS Peer Leadership Club member Andrew Jensen was instrumental in setting up the club’s effort on Monday.

Andrew explained taping a teacher to the wall had been used as a money raising event in the past, and “I figured this would be a popular one to bring back.”

By the end of the duct taping fundraiser, Mr Nichols said Mr Ekman did stick to the wall, for about one minute, when the chair he was removed from below his feet.

Peer Leadership’s efforts, according to Mr Nichols, raised $125.25 for the National Organization For Rare Diseases.