Read-A-Thon to Raise Funds for Sick Teacher

Excerpts from “Jack London,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “The Prince and the Pauper” and just about anything else, “so long as it’s clean” will be read for 24 hours starting Oct. 26, when the Garvey School District launches a read-a-thon to raise money for a bone marrow transplant for a dying teacher.

The district plans to read 8 million words to raise $80,000 in donations to defray medical expenses for Rocio Camacho, who teaches a combined fourth- and fifth-grade class at Marshall Elementary School. Cancer was diagnosed in the 40-year-old teacher, a single parent, last year.

“The idea is to extend this lady’s life so she can live and raise her kid,” said Bruce Davis, a principal at Emerson Elementary School and one of 13 principals who will anchor the read-a-thon, which will run throughout the night. Teachers, students, staff members and parents have signed up and the district welcomes readers in any language, Davis said.

Those who want to volunteer should contact Davis at (818) 307-3333. The read-a-thon starts at 6 p.m. Friday in an outdoor gazebo at Crawford’s Corner, a small shopping center at the corner of Valley Boulevard and New Avenue in Alhambra. It will run until 6 p.m. Saturday. Chairs will be provided.