Hoops and hops for life make up a big part of school exhibition effort

by Scott Turner
Of The Peninsula Gatway

Since the start of the school year, seniors at Gig Harbor High School have been planning for their exhibition projects as a graduation requirement.

It didn't make Meaghan Hicks long to figure out what to do for her project.

Hicks, 17, was diagnosed with primary pulmonary hypertension, or PPH, on April 29, 1994.

The rare disease affects about two in every million people per year and has no known cure.

After some soul-searching Hicks picked her own disease as the focus for her school project.

She compiled data and rounded up some "quality" volunteers. She decided to reach out and make a difference.

Last week Hicks kicked off her hoops and hops fundraising project at the Goodman Middle school gymnasium.

Ten students gathered more than $2,500 worth of pledges, shot baskets and jumped rope for more than an hour.

"I'm real proud of all my helpers and the students who made my project so successful," Hicks said.

Hicks also said that she was glad that she chose the disease as  her springboard to knowledge others.

"This wasn't just a senior project. This was something I did for me too, and hopefully others will learn about this disease and help others who are affected by it," she said.

Reach Scott Turner at 851-9921 ext 242