Students Raise Funds, Awareness for RI Rare Disease Foundation

Bay View Academy Middle School students have been raising both funds and awareness for the Rhode Island Rare Disease Foundation (RIRDF).

Led by their science teacher and Bay View alumna, Meg Battersby, Bay View’s seventh-grade students researched and developed presentations on rare diseases.

These presentations were displayed at the RIRDF’s Rare Disease Day, a special event which took place at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick last Friday, Feb. 28. The organization provides advocacy for Rhode Island families struggling with rare genetic disorders. 

Ten of Bay View’s eighth-grade students also volunteered to raise funds for RIRDF. The first fundraising effort, called “Pair for Rare,” was a twin dress-down day in which Lower and Middle School students and teachers gave donations to pair up and dress as “twins.”

Pair for Rare raised more than $400.  The student volunteers also attended Bay View basketball games and distributed educational materials about the Rhode Island Rare Disease Day as well as collected donations, bringing the grand total of funds raised to $586.93. 

Of Bay View’s fund and awareness raising efforts, Patty Weltin, executive director of the RI Rare Disease Foundation said: "The girls were wonderful and a testament to the values of Bay View and its educators and staff.  I can't thank you enough for all you and the girls have done for the foundation and the rare disease community.

"I heard so many positive comments about the PowerPoint presentations and the girl’s hard work. It means a lot to the rare disease community to be recognized. They have been overlooked for far too long. It gives me hope that there are people out there like you who care. It was my pleasure to work with you and all of the girls at Bay View."

-- Lia McAlpine