Gabrielle’s Schoolmates

Deltona Lakes Elementary School

Kids Raise Thousands to Save Little Girl

 

Volusia County Elementary School Students line up every morning with their jars, loose change, piggy banks, checks, and allowances to save Gabrielle LaVerde.

 

School staff counted the donations, and submitted a check directly to Gabrielle’s Trust Account for medical expenses.

 

These kids stopped at nothing, bake sales, donating their weekly allowance, delivering their piggy banks, a yard sale that involved the entire community, special dinners, more bake sales (this school has a sweet tooth), a talent show, and a memorable spaghetti dinner yielded quite a gift for Gabrielle's trust account. Donations to the trust account are dedicated for her trip to receive experimental treatments and medications not covered by insurance,  in an attempt to save her life.

Gabrielle LaVerde

Young Boy Tries to Save

Little Girl  Gabrielle LaVerde

Elementary School Fights

to Save Dying Classmate

Kids Raise Thousands

 for Little Girl

Spaghetti Dinner at DLE

Oh What a Night!

Lloyd Marcus Asks Community

 to Recognize Cause

City’s Mayor Delivers Proclamation Honoring Elementary School Kids

 

Lloyd Marcus, accompanied by parents and students of Deltona Lakes Elementary School, and their classmate Gabrielle LaVerde, requested community involvement at the Deltona City Commission Meeting on May 19th, 2008.

 

While addressing the Mayor and the City Commission, Marcus called upon all Deltona citizens to create their own fund raising efforts and join the students in saving Gabrielle LaVerde.  Marcus called on every soccer team, every baseball team, every bar, and every church to do a fundraiser for Gabrielle.

 

Before the meeting adjourned, Commissioner Michele McFall-Conte suggested the city present a proclamation to the students that would create a Deltona Lakes Elementary School Day, to honor their fund raising efforts to save their dying schoolmate.

 

On May 20th, Mayor Dennis Mulder’s office contact the school to announce their desire to deliver a proclamation that would create an official DLE day.  However, Mayor Mulder is also planning to throw the students a pizza party at DLE on May 27th.  The pizza party, Mulder explained, would be a way for the City of Deltona to honor the students, and create awareness for the cause.  Brighthouse Networks has agreed to sponsor the pizza, which will be provided and delivered by Little Ceasars.

 

The elementary school collected over $10,800 in just a few months for their fellow schoolmate, Gabrielle LaVerde.  The elementary school, which consists of approximately 1,000 students, worked non-stop in raising awareness and collecting donations for Gabrielle.  The school’s fundraising ideas are being referred to as DLE’s Big Give. 

 

DLE’s Big Give all started with the students standing in line at the front office every morning with their piggy banks, weekly allowances, and coin jars.  Once the students had raised several thousand dollars, the students solicited the help of their parents and neighbors.  What followed were bake sales, talent shows, a community yard sale, and a spaghetti dinner that had profound results.

 

Written by Gisele Veilleux

Letter of Appreciation co-written and read by Gisele Veilleux

on behalf of the LaVerde family:

 

04/24/08

To the DLE community:

For many weeks, we have been asking ourselves how we could ever find the right words to express our gratitude to all of you at DLE. How can we thank those that have volunteered, donated, offered kind and supportive words and prayers, and have held Gabrielle in their hearts?

It is impossible for us to truly thank each and every one of you for what you have done for us. You have all touched our hearts and honored us with your compassion.

Never in our lives could we have imagined that DLE would come together to do so many remarkable things. The show of support and encouragement from the staff, students, and parents at DLE has taught us about the power of hope.

All of this has happened because the students here are all heroes - they have been allowed to blossom, and follow their hearts. These kids do not know the meaning of the word "quit" and for them, giving up is not an option.

If this is a tiny glimpse of what these children are capable of, I wonder what they will accomplish in the future. What the parents and mentors of this school have done for these kids is incredible!

All of you deserve much more than a simple thank you from our family, but for now, with some help from Gisele, we offer you a tribute video, "DLE's Big Give: Home of the Eagles, and where Heroes are Made."

We hope this video shows you what your many gifts of kindness have meant to us.

With Love,

Joe & Danielle LaVerde

Contributors & Supporters of DLE for Gabrielle:

 

· Supra Telecom, Winter Park, FL

· Hispanic American Youth Group of Deltona, FL

· Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Daytona Beach, FL

· Deltona Professional Fire Fighters, Deltona, FL

· IKEA of Orlando, FL

· Hairmasters of Orange City, FL

· Curves, Orange City, FL

· J.C. Lobster Pot, Deland, FL

· CiCi’s Pizza, Orange City, FL

· Deltona Happy Tails Groomer, Deltona, FL

· SAK Comedy Lab, Orlando, FL

· Jos. A Bank (Men Clothier) Longwood, FL

· Deltona Stetson Floral, Deltona Blvd, Deltona, FL

· Focus Dance Group of Sanford, FL

· Candlelight Catering, Deltona, FL 

· Deltona Fire Fighters

Mayor Visits the School

The Kids Have No Idea!

Mayor Reads Proclamation

Kids Enjoy a Pizza Party

for their Efforts!

WESH Interviews

Debbie Yearwood

FOX 35 Covers the Kids’

Big Give for Gabi

The kids really didn’t know what was going on!

 

Why were they being called out of their classrooms

to meet on the basketball courts at 9:00 AM?

 

One 6 year old girl said later, “This has been the best day of my life!”

Who is Gabrielle LaVerde?

 

Gabrielle LaVerde is a delightful and adored 7 year old little girl who has been diagnosed with a fatal and rare disease, called Niemann-Pick Type C.  The disease is considered an orphan disease since there have only been 500 known cases worldwide.  The disease itself renders its victims with Alzheimer’s-like symptoms—victims move backward in time and forget how to perform basic functions, such as talking, walking, eating, chewing, swallowing, and breathing.

 

We first learned of Gabrielle’s  diagnosis in October, 2007.  Gabrielle’s elementary school classmates were horrified to learn that her disease was fatal, and that there was no cure, no miracle drug, or no surgery that could save her.  Her classmates quickly rallied support, not only from their parents, but from the entire Deltona community to help pay for experimental treatments.  The outpouring amount of encouragement, support, and prayers that the LaVerde family has received has been phenomenal.  The elementary school students raised over $10,800 in less than 3 months.

 

The purpose of this website is to:

 

· Increase awareness of the disease known as Niemann-Pick Type C

· Create awareness about Gabrielle LaVerde’s condition

· Share with supporters recent and upcoming events to help Gabrielle.

·  

Special Thanks to Lloyd Marcus, Deltona Lakes Elementary School, the City of Deltona, and the citizens of Deltona, for your ongoing support.

 

 

Website & YouTube Videos designed & donated by www.GiseleVeilleux.com

Elementary School Kids Raise $10,800 for Dying Girl in Less than 3 Months!

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Videos & photos by Gisele Veilleux

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