Recently, the New London Middle School Student Council held a fundraiser to help local heart transplant patient, Melinda Wulf, with expenses toward her recovery.
Initially, students planned to raise money to assist Wulf as she waited for her heart transplant.
Wulf, a former New London Bulldog and nursing student at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, was diagnosed a year ago with Congestive Heart Failure and had recently been placed at the top of the donor waiting list.
The Student Council felt that helping a former alumnus was more “real” than just simply donating money to a local charity, as had been done in the past.
The NLMS Student Council initially ordered just 300 red-and-white silicon wristbands with the words “A HEART for Melinda,” planning to sell them at school. What began has a small gesture turned into a heartwarming and enormous response from students and community members alike.
With help from community members Nancy Gagnow and Adie Hilbert, as well as Sue Wolf and Joan Schmidt, the NLMS student council sold 720 wristbands for their cause!
In addition, students held a Red Out event on Valentine’s Day. Students were asked to wear red and donate in Bulldog class times throughout the day.
For each dollar donated, students were given a red heart to write their names on and place on a brick wall near the cafeteria. The wall was filled by the end of the day!
This event was an excellent showing of compassion and support for a young woman who once walked these same halls.
To only add to the excitement, students were informed that very night that Melinda Wulf received the call – a heart had been donated.
Currently, Wulf is recovering from her surgery and doing great.
The New London Middle School Student Council members will be presenting a $2,000 check to Melinda to aid in her expenses.
Special appreciation goes out to all who helped our students with this event.