From dodgeballs to donations: a week of fun for a great cause

This past week, Wahkiakum County Key Club hosted its annual Doernbecher Days, a time-honored tradition since 2009. Doernbecher Days is a high-energy, student-run fundraiser benefiting Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland, OR. It's a week packed with friendly competition, excitement, and tons of fun for all ages.

This year's festivities kicked off with a K-12 assembly, where the whole school came together to get hyped for the events ahead. To set the tone, the assembly featured a limbo competition-and let's just say, there were some seriously impressive and hilarious moves from the kids who participated. Parker Leitz, Jessie Lefever, Samantha Delacruz, Memphis Coleman and many more of the key club members took to the gym floor, each explaining the exciting lineup of events that would unfold throughout the week. From root beer and orange floats at lunch to a wild dodgeball showdown in the gym, they made sure everyone knew exactly what to expect, and the energy was contagious.

What followed next was a series of fundraising events, donation jars, and a lot of hard work from the Key Club. There were six main events: the auction, floats at lunch, coin jars, a dodgeball tournament, a talent show, and a movie night-each one a great success.

The week started with coin jars in classrooms for students to fill with spare change. The fun twist? Students could sabotage other classes by putting in dollar bills, which would subtract from their total points. This raised a total of $700!

The first event was a "Cars" movie night, organized by Evelyn Hogue and Cameren Mendez. They set up a projector, mats for people to sit on, and sold concessions.

Then came the float fundraiser, orange soda and root beer floats, organized by Mayleonna Casey, Audrey Morton, and Cooper Carlson. Sold at lunch for $3 each, they were so popular that they sold out within minutes every time; I can confidently say they were worth every dollar.

Key Club Vice President Jessie Lafeaver and Payton Mendez organized the auction and dinner. Key Club and the leadership students all helped with the student-run dinner. Alaina Nakonsky and Audrey Morton cooked chicken alfredo and spaghetti for those who attended. The auction was held by the auctioneer Brian McClain. They auctioned off various items like jams, cookies, an Airbnb voucher, and gift certificates. All of which were donated or made by our staff and students' families, or donated by Kawanis. It was a huge success, bringing in $3,800!

The Talent Show followed shortly after, organized by Memphis Coleman, Josiah Garrett, Samantha Delacruz, and Teacher Kaitlyn Kincaid. They hosted an open tryout, accepting all performers, and a rehearsal was held two days before the show. On the night of the performance, Emily Robinson, Samantha Delacruz, and several others collected donations for Doernbecher Children's Hospital at the door.

Next was the Dodgeball Tournament, organized by School/Key Club President Parker Leitz and Webmaster Samantha Delacruz. Students registered and paid for their teams in advance. It cost $5 to participate, $1 to watch, and $20 for jailbreaks (an option that allowed eliminated players to re-enter the game). Brayden Hilton and Rylie Wills managed concessions during the tournament, while Mason Waldeck and Preston "Diddy" West handled advertising and promotions. High school P.E. teacher Rob Garret officiated the tournament, ensuring fair play while competing on his own team with some of his students. The game featured eight teams, each competing in a single-elimination bracket. Dodgeball rules were standard: if a ball hit a player, they were out, and catching a ball eliminated the thrower while bringing another teammate back into play. A key moment came during the semifinals, when a surprise jailbreak shifted momentum, allowing an underdog team to rise from near elimination and dramatically win that round.

To close out this incredible week, the Key Club hosted another K-12 assembly to share the results of their fundraising efforts. The event concluded with a partnership with the Go Big BMX Air Show - an exciting and educational performance that had every student's attention. They taught students the importance of making healthy choices while young to set themselves up for a lifetime of good decision-making. Shortly after their speeches, the two of them Eze Helmreich and Danny Josa, proceeded to wow the crowd with their complex and interactive tricks.

Looking back on the week, seeing how much our school community accomplished is amazing. Every event, from the fun of watching Cars on a big screen to the energy of the talent show to the friendly rivalry of the coin jars, was filled with enthusiasm, teamwork, and a shared goal: make a difference.

It wasn't just about raising money but about bringing people together. Students from all grades pitched in by organizing events, volunteering their time, or simply showing up to support. Seeing everyone come together with such excitement and purpose was something truly special.

The total amount raised for this meaningful cause is $6,812.81, which is no small accomplishment. Each dollar represents a moment of kindness. I feel incredibly proud to have been part of something that shows how powerful a school community can be when we work toward something bigger than ourselves. This week reminded me that combining creativity, hard work, and teamwork can accomplish incredible things. The momentum we built continues to inspire others long after the final donation was counted. If you want to join the fun and donate to Key Club and Doernbecher Children's Hospital, you can drop off checks at Wahkiakum High School's front office.