Greenville High School Key Club members raised nearly $1,800 in a 25-hour "famine" from 7 a.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday.

The "Fast for Fuel" and "Fast for Kids" marathon raised $1,786, according to Key Club advisor Keyth Carter. "Half the money will go to the town of Greenville's fuel assistance fund while the rest will go toward Kiwanis-sponsored programs," said Carter.

Programs supported by the service club include the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Institute in Boston, Camp Sunshine in Raymond and Children of Peace, an organization building new schools in Vietnam.

While the Key Club kids had some leisure time over the 25-hour stretch, they also did a considerable amount of work at the school, said Carter. They cleaned the desks, straightened out closets and storage areas, helped teacher Charles Carter repair the stage lights and spruced up other areas of the school, said Key Club president Jack McLaughlin.

The hardest part, noted McLaughlin, was to attend school Friday without eating.

"They has a program on 'pi' (the mathematical term) and some of the teachers and kids brought in homemade pies," said McLaughlin. "We were tempted, but nobody gave in." The only nourishment on hand for the 25-hour "famine" was clear liquids and Jell-O.

During leisure time, the Key Club watched movies and engaged in some "Guitar Hero" competition to pass time.

Would they do it again? "Sure I would," said Ruby Rockwell. "Going without food for one day is nothing compared to what some families go through. We enjoy helping needy people." The Key Club's next project was the Moosehead Kiwanis Club Red Cross blood drive on March 17.
"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Tuesday, March 18, 2008 edition of the Moosehead Messenger and is used here with permission."