[media-credit name=”Jordan Robins” align=”alignleft” width=”142″]
[/media-credit]by Leah Budson
[/media-credit]by Leah BudsonSenior Emily Paley’s two passions are fundraising for cancer research and performing. She discovered a way to combine the two when she founded A Cappella for a Cure three years ago, she said.
A Cappella for a Cure will be held on at the Newton Cultural Center Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Southbeat and Newtones, two a cappella groups from South, will perform in addition to this school’s three a cappella choirs: the Melocotones, Forte and Northern Lights. An a cappella group from Brandeis University, the Starving Artists will be featured as a special guest.
One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life, an organization dedicated to “fighting for every birthday threatened by cancer in every community,” according to its website.
“I first became aware of the importance of raising money for cancer research when I was 13-years old,” said Paley, “The older brother of one my friends was diagnosed with leukemia and died just three weeks later.
“He was only 15-years old, and he had always seemed so healthy and invincible,” she explained.
“I started taking part in the Relay For Life right after he passed away. Through that program, I began A Cappella for a Cure.”
The annual concert was founded in 2010. “I was a member of Northern Lights, this school’s co-ed a cappella group, and I thought it would be fun to gather up a lot of high school groups and have a fundraising concert,” said Paley.
One of the most rewarding parts of the process is totaling up how much money the concert made for Relay For Life, said Paley. “The first year, I didn’t really know what to expect, but we had over 225 people come. We made over $5,000 each of the past two years, and are hoping for the same this year.”
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at theatreink.net or at the door. At the event, bracelets and baked goods will also be sold to raise money.
For more information, contact [email protected].
