Pardeeville’s Bulldog Stomp Cancer Run-Walk has become a favorite tradition for both the community participants and the high school students who organize it.
The annual spring event supports research at UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center and has raised more than $373,000 over the years. And it’s all thanks to the hard work and dedication of more than 30 Pardeeville High School students each year.
“It's just really awesome, especially to see how many people come and see that our hard work really paid off,” said Kayla Buzzell, a senior at Pardeeville High School and member of the Bulldog Stop leadership team.
This year’s Bulldog Stomp will be held May 3 at Pardeeville High School with participant registration and other details available on the event page.
Bulldog Stomp grew out of an idea five students had for a community service project in 2008, according to Chris Lynch, the middle and high school art teacher and a co-advisor for Bulldog Stomp. The students pitched the fundraiser as a show of support for a community member who was diagnosed with breast cancer. In 2012, Bulldog Stomp began fundraising on behalf of Carbone Cancer Center’s research.
“It’s really grown over the years,” Lynch said.
Having students organize the event offers them a valuable skill-building experience, according to Lynch. The work for each Bulldog Stomp begins when the school year resumes in the fall. Among the student volunteers is an elected leadership team tasked with coordinating efforts.
In addition to the run/walk events, the students also organize a silent auction and basket raffles from items donated by local businesses. Olivia Bue, a senior and a member of that leadership team, said having students go in-person to area businesses is a valuable way to emphasize their mission and draw more support.
“When we say we’re a student-led committee, it just piques everyone’s interest and wanting to know more about it or how to contribute,” Bue said. “I think that people love to hear that students are doing the work.”
They’re grateful for the strong business support and sponsorships they receive for Bulldog Stomp every year, increasing the amount they can donate to Carbone’s research. The students get a chance to see their donations in-action by visiting a cancer research lab each year, bringing their hard work full circle.
“When we went (on a lab tour), we looked at this machine and the person that was showing us around was like, ‘You guys bought us this machine,’” said Catie Kopfhamer, a junior on the leadership team. “I thought it was one of the coolest things. We worked for that.”