Here is a copy of an article in the Dunkirk Observer Newspaper (10/26):

"Jim Thies is receiving from the Forestville School District. Making a difference, seeking a
connection" - BY JOEL CUTHBERT OBSERVER Staff Writer

FORESTVILLE: Students and staff members at Forestville Central School are helping to make a difference, not only in their local neighborhoods but throughout our global
community.

This Saturday, Oct. 27 though efforts are not limited to a single day, the
students, faculty and community of FCS are participating in the 16th Annual "Make A
Difference Day" Challenge. The district's goals this year include raising money for the
Roswell Park pediatric unit, the anticipated Forestville Community Center and Food
Pantry, the American Cancer Society's "Journeys of Inspiration" project and the Bulati
School Fund. Every effort to help someone can make our community the nation a better
place, if just for the day, a letter sent by the school to community members said.

As of last year, FCS had raised and donated $11,845.66 to the Roswell Park pediatric
unit and $16,934.81 to various other organizations, for a 15 year total of $28,780.47.
Some of the activities for this Saturday are the "Make A Difference Day" Walk-a-Thon
from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Donations will be collected by participants who will walk anywhere
from 20 minutes to an hour depending upon their grade level. Locks of Love will also be
at the Forestville Elementary School from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The Invention Room and other local hair salons will be cutting hair for individuals wishing to donate. Other activities
organized by faculty and students include the "Make ADifference Day" Dinner served
Thursday, Oct. 25 from 4 to 7 p.m. along with a Theme Basket Raffle held the same night,
a penny harvest which will continue until Friday, Nov. 9 and Hat Day, with students
donating $1 to wear a hat in school. There was a book and toy sale, with second and third
grade students collecting donations of new or "gently" used books and toys. Third graders
will be collecting items to donate to the Chautauqua County Humane Society, second
graders will be collecting used eyeglasses to donate to the Lion's Club and
Kindergarteners will be collecting new or "gently" used shoes to donate to third-world
countries and disaster areas. First graders made painted, paper bag pumpkins and
donated them to the Chautauqua County Home and WCA Home in Fredonia, and will be
collecting for UNICEF this Halloween.

FCS "Make A Difference Day" committee members are Carol McPeak-McDonald, Kelly
Raichel, Debbie Cook, Anna Patton, Sarah Ivory, Jen Dunn, Nicole Lombardo, Nicki
Schoenl, Debbie Janiak, Scott Hazelton, Stacey Mierzwa and Kelly Schober.

Perhaps most notable this year is the district's sponsorship of Jim Thies, 1965 graduate of
FCS and prostate cancer survivor and his involvement in the "Journeys of Inspiration"
project and the Bulati School Fund. Thies, presently a Rochester resident, originally
contacted various members of the class of 1965 in order to connect to his former
community. He received generous donations from his fellow graduates and was directed to
Forestville Central School and their "Make A Difference Day" fund raising activities.

The "Journeys of Inspiration" initiative founded by Rick French of Pack, Paddle, Ski is to
scale Mt. Kilimanjaro in March of 2008 after raising funds for the ACS. "What if we could
get a community of cancer survivors together to promote enjoying life," Thies said,
explaining the origins of the project, "and also raise some funds for the American Cancer
Society." Mt.Kilimanjaro is located in north-eastern Tanzania, and is the tallest free-
standing mountain rise in the world, a climb of about 19,340 feet. Itis an eight day climb,
with participants expecting to reach the summit at sunrise on March, 2 2008. "This is a big
mountain," Thies said, quoting his friend and co-climber Bonnie. "But will it be big enough
to hold the emotion coming from 40 people that all reach the summit." The 2008 climb will
represent the culmination of a yearlong effort to raise money for the fight against cancer
while establishing a support community for survivors. The ultimate goal of the project is to
have 40 individuals, all affected by cancer in some way, who will reach the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The group currently consists of about 38 individuals who are committed to
raising $100,000 to present to the ACS. The group has already raised about $50,000. An
offshoot project which Thies became involved in during preparation for the Mt.
Kilimanjaro climb seeks to raise funds and collect supplies for the impoverished Bulati
school in north-eastern Tanzania. The initial goal is to raise $20,000 for the school of 520
student and 20 teachers. "[The school has] no running water, no electricity, no cafeteria,"
Thies said. "The kids literally walk to school everyday with their little, rusty tin can full of
water, and some grain. They use that water and grain to feed themselves lunch and
provide something for the teachers. This is a very, very primitive school." A sub-team of
four to five climbers involved with the project headed by Linda Artruc will personally
deliver all donations to the school following their ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Thies will be
bringing along a FCS banner and stuffed hornet on the trip, with plans to take a picture of
them at the summit, to represent the district and community's connection to the project.
Upon his return, these items will be donated to the school. He also has plans to bring a
map of Forestville to give to the Bulati school, and likewise, return with a map of Bulati for Forestville. "It's one thing just to ask people for a donation," Thies said. "But what we are
really about is how can we give back to the community, how can we get them involved,
get them to feel connected to this project." There will also be live web feeds daily by
which community members can track the progress of the climbers.

For more information on the climb, visit journeysofinspiration.com. To make a donation to
the ACS, visit main.acsevents.org/journeysofinspiration.com. For more information on the
Bulati school, or to make a donation, visit packpaddleski.com and click on the "Matters
that Matter" link. Donations to either project can also be sent to:

Jim Thies, 210 Rumson Road, Rochester, NY 14616.
He can also be contacted at jthies001@rochester.rr.com.