RISE Day

By Mary Natalie LeNoir and Mallory Dean

RISE stands for Rebels Impact Through Service and Engagement. RISE is a service project sponsored by the Vestavia Hills Youth Leadership that is aimed at raising money for the Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Program at the O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB. Each spring, the student body creates their own student-led teams to raise funds through their own service. Many other sponsors, including The Prewitt Group, contribute to the money and funds raised for RISE. This year’s RISE theme was called “A Million Reasons” in hopes of raising $1,000,000 after 5 years of service.

Every year on RISE Day, students come out with their teammates and set up tents all around the soccer field to continue raising money. Families and friends come together to enjoy a fun day with live music, fun games, and great food. This year the student body came up with some very unique tent/fundraising ideas. One tent that caught the attention of many was the “Global Grub” Tent. This tent sold fried rice, dumplings, samosas, and boba!

Another popular group called “Oomie Zoomie” raised money by selling fancy and intricate drinks consisting of different soft drinks and fruit drinks.

Many RISE teams made use of sports and games in an attempt to raise money. These games include: a dunk tank, card games, table tennis, cornhole, and spikeball.

VHHS has some very talented students and faculty within its walls, and many of them choose to come out and perform live on RISE Day. This year’s line up was fantastic with student performers and even a faculty performance!

The performers included:

• Strangers

• Out of Pocket

• Mr. Hollis

• Ebrahim

• Kat and Mills

• Wilson & Jackson

• Down to Earth

• Supply the Demand

• Jackson Ruffino

For the closing ceremony for RISE Day, the student body gathers on the football field for the luminary service. The luminaries line the track and field in honor of loved ones who have or have had cancer. During the ceremony, students walk silently around the track to honor all of these people.

At the luminary ceremony, the amount of money the students raised this year and over the course of five years was announced. This year alone, the student body was able to raise $230,023. This year’s theme was “A Million Reasons.” Over the course of five years, the student body raised $1,044,966!

Team Award Winners:

• Best Team Name: Sha-Cure O’Neal

• Best Fundraising Idea: RISE Above

• Most Money Raised: RISE as One

• Best Tent Decorations: Rebs 4 RISE

• Best Tent Fundraiser: RISE Team #7

• Best Overall: Code Red and Blue, Cancer E-Lemon-ators, and Kick Cancer