More than 2,000 people took part in the Walk for Fallen Heroes on Yongsan Garrison in Seoul on April 2. The event raised more than $36,000 to fund scholarships for children whose parents died in Iraq or Afghanistan, a school official said Friday. (Teri Weaver / Stars and Stripes)
YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea — Seoul American High School students raised more than $36,000 to fund scholarships for children whose parents died in Iraq and Afghanistan, a school official said.
The students held a 7-kilometer “Walk for Fallen Heroes” on April 2 and also accepted donations and sold bracelets, T-shirts and food. More than 2,000 people attended the event.
Michelle Pell, a teacher who helped organize the event, stated in an e-mail Friday that $6,000 went to pay for the T-shirts and bracelets and leftover goods are being shipped to troops in Iraq.
“We are reserving $600 for postage to send out the over 1,500 condolence letters to families of all casualties through the end of April,” she wrote. The condolence letters will contain contact information on obtaining scholarships, which are being distributed through Gallagher’s Army, run by radio personality Mike Gallagher.
Pell said a $5,000 check was sent to Heidi Sims for her son Colin’s education. Heidi’s husband, Capt. Sean Sims, was a former Seoul American High School student who was killed in action in November 2004.
“We sent the remaining $25,000 to Gallagher’s Army,” Pell said.
And, she wrote, “We still have a little money trickling in.”
Pell wrote she’s also excited Gallagher is planning to interview some of the high school students. The interviews, she wrote, will be sent to more than 200 radio stations as part of a major “publicity push to gain recognition and further scholarships.”
