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| By Michelle Symington MetroWest Reminder Assistant Editor AGAWAM Although the Alzheimer's Association's Pioneer Valley Memory Walk does not take place until October, 13-year-old Cory Potvin has already begun to raise money to reach his $1,500 fund-raising goal for the walk. Cory, with the help from friends and family, will host a fund-raising dance for students who attend Agawam Junior High School this Friday at the Springfield Turnverein. Denise Beaulieu, a family friend who volunteers to help Cory with his fund-raising efforts, explained that the dance is not a school-endorsed event, but said they chose to invite just Junior High School students because they were afraid of the event being too big. The dance will be chaperoned and will include make-your-own- sundae station. Tickets are $10 and will be available to purchase at the door. Cory and his grandmother, Caral Potvin, came up with the slogan "Donate Today So You Can Remember Tomorrow" for the dance. Cory became involved with the Memory Walk five years ago and has increased his fund-raising goal each year. Cory said that his grandmother got him involved with the event. "She was doing it before and she asked me one year if I wanted to help and I had a lot of fun," he said. During the first year that he participated in the walk, Cory went along with his grandmother, who volunteered with Committee work. The next year, Cory began to volunteer and began to help prior to the walk, placing table cloths on the tables and doing odd jobs, according to Beaulieu. He walked with his grandmother the second year as well. During his third year participating in the walk, Cory started to raise money himself and collected $503. Beaulieu said Cory placed second in the youth category for the most raised. Last year, Cory, with support from his friends and family, created his own team The Cory Potvin Team, which raised $1,231. Beaulieu said that $1,033 of the funds raised last year were raised by Cory. He was named the number one youth fund-raiser for his efforts, earning him an Elite Fleet award. Beaulieu explained that he started to walk dogs, collect bottles and cans and do chores for his family to raise money for the Alzheimer's Association. His family also helped him host a spaghetti dinner, which raised $500. He is also selling Alzheimer's bracelets with the slogan "a reason to hope" for $2 to raise money for the Association. Cory said that he is very involved with the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk and fund-raising because he wants to help "in case my gram and parents get it and so there is a cure and stuff." The dance is Cory's first large fund-raiser for this year's walk, but he plans to host another spaghetti dinner. He also said he plans to continue to collect bottles and cans, do chores, walk dogs and solicit donations by going door to door. He said that his brothers Nathan and Christopher, and his neighbor Casey Dudek, helped him go door to door last year and were also members of his team for the walk. He added that they will help him again this year. In addition to walking with his grandmother, Cory said he visits with elderly residents at the assisted living home where Caral is employed. "I have a lot of fun," he said. "Some of them are fun to hang out with." Cory said he plays pool or Bingo with the residents. He also said that, when none of the workers are around, he will help the residents if they need it. He said some of them offer him money for his help, but he will not take it. "They need it more," he said. Even though Cory is heavily involved with the Memory Walk, he never personally knew anyone with Alzheimer's. He said his great-grandmother suffered from the disease, but he did not know her. To encourage others to participate or donate money to the cause, he said he would tell people to think of his great-grandmother. He added that the walk is "fun and I think it is helpful." Cory, a student at Agawam Junior High School, said he also enjoys playing catch with his friends and helping out his grandmother with anything she needs. He added that he is trying to convince more of his friends to be a member of his team. Don Potvin, Cory's father, said, "We are absolutely proud of him and the wonderful job he is doing." He added that Cory does participate in "normal kid" activities and that sometimes during the summer months they have to drag him out of the pool to continue his fund-raising efforts. "He is pretty independent, but he has taken this so far, it's unbelievable," he added. Cory has set up a website that will allow supporters to make donations to him and his team on-line. Cory's personal website is: http://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=160726&supId=124567905. Cory's team website is: http://www.kintera.org/faf/r.asp?t=12&i=160726&g=1284190. Anyone interested in purchasing a bracelet, volunteering or would like more information should call 786-3115. The walk will take place Oct. 1 at Stanley Park in Westfield. |