Evans City Students "S.T.O.M.P" for Cancer Research

Lorraine Scarpino remembers many things about Linda Saulle, a fellow teacher at . Kind, upbeat, and ever cheerful were just a few of the phrases that Scarpino used to described Saulle.

“Everyone loved her,” she said. “She was the most caring, loving person I knew.”

Saulle, who taught for 17 years at Evans City, died in 2007 after a battle with colon cancer that spread through her body. She was 57.  

Scarpino wanted to do something to celebrate her dear friend’s life, but she didn’t just want to plant a tree or a garden at the school. Instead, she and a committee of teachers put together a walkathon that would raise money for cancer research.

“It’s important," Scarpino said. “It’s not just about Linda anymore. Cancer touches everyone’s lives.”

The concept was a success, and on Friday, the elementary and middle school held its fourth annual S.T.O.M.P Out Cancer walkathon in memory of Saulle.

S.T.O.M.P stands for Saulle’s Teddy Bear Official Memorial Parade. Scarpino said that Saulle was famous for her love of the stuffed animals and would hold a Teddy Bear picnic for her kindergartners each year.

“She always made everything so fun,” Scarpino said. “When she was sick, we had a Teddy Bear picnic for her.”

In honor of their teacher, students brought Teddy Bears from home to Friday’s walkathon.

Scarpino said the different grade levels took turns throughout the day parading around the school in 20-minute increments. Besides Teddy Bears, the students carried signs painted with the ribbons representing the different types of cancers. As they walked, they chanted, “Stomp out cancer.”

“Oh, the kids were just so cute about it,” Scarpino said.

Many of the teachers and students also wore purple shirts emblazoned with “Rehanna’s Warriors.” A fifth-grader at the middle school, Rehanna Lydon has cancer. She attended Friday’s event with her mom and sisters. Saulle’s widow, Tom Saulle, also attend the parade with the couple’s three grown children.

Scarpino said the walkathon typically raises $12,000 to $13,000 per year with all proceeds going toward cancer research at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.

The students are asked to collect donations from parents and businesses. The classroom that raises the most money gets to keep in their room, for one year,  a special bear that resembles Saulle right down to the glasses she wore.

If you missed Friday’s parade, it’s not too late to give to the cause. The school will continue to accept donations until later this month. Checks may be written out to UPCI – Saulle and sent to Evans City Elementary School at 345 Rear West Main Street, Evans City, PA 16033

“If we can do anything to help stomp out cancer, that's our goal,” Scarpino said.