1-16-23 smsa students support fdl boy with rare chromosomal disorder

Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs Academy students and families are raising funds for a Fond du Lac  boy born with a rare chromosomal disorder.  The students dedicated three holiday fundraisers to help Clayton Bowe and his parents, Brian and Terah Bowe, navigate Clayton’s medical challenges.   The 11 year old Bowe faces health challenges that include seizures, dystonia, dysautonomia and a reliance on oxygen support.    “All of this is outweighed by the amount of love that Clay gives out,” Holy Family Catholic Community Fond du Lac wrote on its Facebook page when announcing that St. Mary’s Springs Academy students in grades 4 to 8 were creating and selling unique Christmas cards to support Clayton. “God surely knew that the world needed a bright light and he gave us Clay.”  The original Christmas cards were sold at each SMSA Christmas concert and after select Masses at Holy Family Catholic Parishes. SMSA students also chose to dedicate the proceeds of a movie and popcorn celebration that had a suggested donation of $3 to participate. The Christmas cards and movie event raised $4,805 which was donated to the Bowe family Jan. 5.   SMSA eighth-graders also chose Clayton as the beneficiary of their Elves R Us project in December. Established in 1992, Elves R Us is an annual business and mentorship project run by the 8th grade students. Profits are used to make donations to a charity chosen by the students and to fund their class trip. This year, 8th graders were honored to present a $500 check to Clayton’s father in December.    “Community is such an important part of who we are at SMSA and is one of our six core values,”   SMSA middle school art teacher and co-chair of the fundraiser, Chris Schneider said.  “We see community as much more than what is inside the walls of our school. Service learning also is such a big part of who we are at SMSA, helping the greater community around us.”