David Plotkin stood among a sea of students and faculty at a Fayetteville Elementary School assembly.
“Does anybody know a child who was diagnosed with cancer?” he asked. Suddenly, a wave of hands shot into the air.
That’s precisely why Plotkin, the co-founder of the Max Foundation, was there. Plotkin helped start the foundation after his then-four-year-old son, Max, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, B-Cell Lymphoma, in 2007. The foundation works to raise money that will go toward pediatric cancer research. Today, Plotkin said, his son’s cancer is in remission.
Plotkin visited the elementary school on Thursday, May 31 at 2:30 p.m. to kick off the Maxwell Foundation’s “Dunk your kicks” program. From May 31 until the end of the academic school year, five Fayetteville-Manlius schools — Fayetteville, Mott Road and Enders Road elementary schools, as well as Eagle Hill and Wellwood middle schools – will be collecting used sneakers to recycle.
The foundation earns $1 to put toward helping local families who are battling pediatric cancer for every pair of sneakers it receives, Plotkin said.
“We wanted to expand beyond research, and help local communities, just like communities here in the Syracuse, Fayetteville, Manlius area,” Plotkin said.
Plotkin also introduced students to Max Lion, the foundation’s official mascot. He said when his son, Max, was battling cancer, he would hold onto a stuffed lion to make himself feel better.
To help kick off the “Dunk your kicks” program, Plotkin invited students to join him and Max Lion at the front of the cafeteria and toss a pair of sneakers into one of the large recycling bins that the schools will use to support the program. The students helped Plotkin count down from three, and then threw the sneakers into the bins, signifying the start of the program at the F-M schools.
Before leaving, Plotkin left the students and faculty of Fayetteville Elementary with a message.
“When I come back in a few weeks’ time, and we collect the sneakers, I guarantee that these bins are going to be overflowing,” he said. “But they’re not just going to be overflowing with sneakers; they’re going to be overflowing with sneakers that represent hope, because that hope turns into real money that’s going to help these families.”
