For this weeks blog I asked our programming intern TJ to write about a story he and I worked on called “Stroll for Strength”. I think giving our interns the ability to work on projects and see their hard work end up on the air and online is not only rewarding for them as interns but also gives them something for their resume as they move forward with their careers. Below is TJ’s blog.
For those of you who don’t know me, I’m TJ, the new intern. This fall I began my semester long programming internship. That means I help assist the producers in scheduling and editing of the segments you see on the show. I also assist in laying out the posts you see on the Connecting Point website. With the holidays coming up I suggested to producer, Dave Fraser that we do a segment on an annual event held at my old high school. Every year, the day before Thanksgiving, Longmeadow High School students put on an event to honor lost loved ones in the western Mass area. This year’s 9th Annual Stroll for Strength is a 5K road race, or a one mile walk around the town of Longmeadow that starts and ends at Longmeadow High School. This year the event is honoring 23 people from all different towns in the area.
I figured this event would make a perfect segment right before Thanksgiving. My senior year in high school I worked this event, put on by the Sport and Event Management class. Once my class began planning the event I started to realize the impact it had on so many people. This event gives people a way to remember those they have lost and honor their lives. The holidays can be a very hard time for these families and this event tries to offer something that they can look forward to, all while raising money for various charities selected by the families.
We started off this story by talking to LHS students and teachers during preparation for the event. We heard from six seniors about their jobs on the event and what the event means to them. Each student had a unique personal connection to the event. The Stroll for Strength does not just affect the families of the honorees, it affects an entire community. After talking with the students we spoke with the two teachers of the Sport and Event Management class, John Pantuosco and Christine Kervian. They spoke about how much the event has been able to help people over the years, and how it offers a unique learning environment. The Stroll for Strength is much bigger than a teacher, a class, or a school. What these students and teachers give to the members of the community is unparalleled.
It was important that we hear from some of the 23 families involved. With help from the class at LHS we were able to set up two interviews. Our first interview was with Ginger Pisani, whose husband Bob was the substance abuse counselor at LHS. Next, we interviewed Jim and Anne Marie Ginopoulos whose son George was a member of the class of 2012 at LHS. Both families expressed gratitude for the support that they have received through the work of so many students and teachers over the years.
I hope this segment has raised awareness for the event and encourages viewers to show these families support this Thanksgiving. The 9th Annual Stroll for Strength will take place on Wednesday November, 26th at Longmeadow High School, 95 Grassy Gutter Rd. Registration for the event begins at 12:15 and the run starts at 1 PM. Charities include Springfield Boys & Girls Club, Breast Cancer Awareness, Suicide Prevention, Honor Conor INC., and various other charities selected by families.
