Hershey students thank Kimball fans

Students from Hershey High School want to thank Kimball fans for the generosity they showed during a recent football game.

On Oct. 17, the Longhorns traveled to Hershey for a game in which students and others in the stands wore orange ribbons in support of Paige Larchick, a junior at the school who was recently diagnosed with leukemia. The public address announcer explained the reason for the orange ribbons, and Kimball fans in the stands responded by “passing the hat” to raise money for Larchick.

“After that, the few Kimball fans must have went around the stands on their side and conjured up the money out of the kindness of their hearts,” said Hannah Johnson, a junior at Hershey and a classmate of Larchick. “It was brought to the concession stands, which made it to our athletic director then finally to the father of Paige. It meant so much to our class because Paige is so dear to us. (She is) always so kind to everyone and has a smile and laugh that radiates from her.”

The Kimball fans raised $83 for Larchick that night, without a fundraiser going on at the stadium. The Kimball fans raised the money on their own initiative.

Johnson said she and her classmates were overwhelmed by the action of the Kimball fans.

“The Kimball fans did not have to do anything, but the fact that they made the effort and donated their money to a girl they did not even know is so respectable,” Johnson said. “We cannot thank them enough. I speak for my whole class when I say that it warms my heart that there are still people in this world like that. I truly don’t think a lot of people would have acted like they did.”

If anyone else would like to donate, there are several ways to do so. A benefit account is set up at Hershey State Bank in Hershey and North Platte. An account is also set up at gofundme.com under the name Paige Larchick or “Prayers for Paige Larchick.”