![Junior Grant Levins sprints down the track. "I'm here to try out because I love the sport of track and field and I'm working on my 800 [meter] time. Just trying to get better," Levins said.](https://www.wjpitch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/g82ehdhTRiNswrE8gfn0tL9VRz7fuAnaiIKPCaOI-1200x900.jpg)
Pennies for Patients is a long-running annual tradition at WJ as the Leadership class works throughout the month of February to raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society via various fundraisers.
This year, one new event reaches out to music lovers. It is WJ’s first-ever music festival, officially named Cats 4 the Cure Fest, dubbed “Fest” by many students.
The event will consist of three bands performing in the cafeteria. Papa John’s, Chick-fil-A, Shanghai Bao Kitchen, Bubble Tea and JennyCakes Bakery will cater the concert.
Senior and Leadership student Katie Hickey helped plan the event.
“We started planning [Fest] in October, so it’s finally coming, and it’s exciting,” Hickey said.
The bands M. Maggie, Cafune and Throwing Wrenches will perform at Fest. A member of the band Throwing Wrenches is WJ sophomore Nick Morper.
Each group is looking forward to performing.
“[The bands] were very excited…. It gives them more of a name if they play,” Hickey said.
She said that planning the event was initially difficult, especially the logistics.
“We needed to find a spot where we could have it… it’s in the middle of the winter so it’s very cold,” Hickey said. Her Leadership group eventually chose to have Fest in the auditorium.
“It’s hard to think about having 900 people in a auditorium,” said Hickey, whose team plans to sell 900 wristband tickets.
Nonetheless, she is positive about Fest’s outcome.
“I am looking forward to it a lot, it’s going to be a fun event,” Hickey said.