Two Reagan High juniors organized a lifting contest that raised $5,615 to cover travel and lodging for children with serious illness or disability in Team IMPACT.

Student athletes at Ronald W. Reagan High School raised $5,615 for Team IMPACT, a nonprofit that pairs children who have a serious illness or disability with college sports teams.

The money came from a charity fitness and weightlifting competition the students ran at Utopia Fitness in Lewisville. Lewisville is about nine miles west of Winston-Salem. Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools reported the total in a district news story.

Where the money goes

Team IMPACT matches children with college teams across the country, the district said. Case managers set goals with each family and build the child’s ties to the team.

The $5,615 will pay for families’ travel and lodging while they take part in Team IMPACT programs. That keeps the cost of joining low, the district said.

Team IMPACT describes its work on its own website. It serves children ages 5 to 16, according to its page for families.

Who organized it

The drive, called Reagan for IMPACT, was led by juniors Mallory Lindquist and Chloe Rogers. Both play sports at Reagan. Neither had organized a fundraiser before, the district said.

Lindquist said her cousin’s experience led her to it. “My cousin had a serious illness, and I saw what charities like Team IMPACT did for him and his family,” she said. “I wanted to help people like that too.”

Many of the school’s athletes gave up a Saturday to take part.

“We know a lot of athletes here, and it means a lot to us that they were willing to dedicate a Saturday to this,” Rogers said. “It’s good to have friends to turn to. When you need something, you have your team.”

What it means for you

  • To refer a child: families of children ages 5 to 16 can apply through Team IMPACT’s families page.
  • If your school or team runs a fundraiser: send us the total, a photo and who it helped through our contact page. We publish school, club and nonprofit milestones.

Reagan’s grades, enrollment and attendance zone are on our Reagan High School page.