Social Good

Students and staff at a high school in Anderson County, South Carolina, are raising money to help a teacher get a new kidney. At Wren High School, each year’s spirit week is rooted in a cause or mission to raise money and awareness for someone or a charitable organization.”Spirit week at Wren is just a really fun week for the students, but its also a way to raise money, Wren High School Senior Ava Blackston said. “We love to pick a cause for the week and just kind of promote our cause and raise awareness.This year, the cause is centered around Mrs. Teresa Lewis. Lewis has been a fixture at Wren High School for more than 20 years.Shes definitely a part of our family here at Wren, and its just time to show up and show out for our family, Blackston said. “The target goal here is to find Mrs. Lewis a kidney so that she does not have to go on dialysis.Lewis is currently in need of either a living or deceased donor for a new kidney. She said each day that passes, her system continues to shut down.I was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease in my early 30s,” Lewis said. “It is a genetic kidney disease. The main goal for me is to find a living donor or a donated kidney before I hit dialysis.Wren High School’s spirit week began on Friday, and as of Wednesday, students and staff raised roughly $10,000 for her.Their enthusiasm about a cause, not just my cause but any cause is amazing,” Lewis said. “Theyre just incredible students.”Mrs. Lewis is coming up on the end of her being able to teach,” Wren High School Junior Kirsten Miller said. “Shes running out of time. We have to raise as much money as we can.””Shes taught at Wren for over 20 years,” Wren High School Senior Campbell Lee said. “When someone in our family is hurting, we just want to stand by them and support them. Even when spirit week is over, we will continue to raise as much money as we can.”Lewis stressed the importance of Prisma’s transplant center, the value of organ donations, and why everyone should continue to educate themselves on the impact organ donations can have on those in need.There are so many other people that need kidneys,” Lewis said. “We all have two kidneys, so we have one to share. If I get a kidney, hopefully, I can make it 20 more years.Lewis said her children went through Wren High School, and she said she’d love to still be there when her kindergarten-aged grandchildren make it to the school.If you’d like to donate or want more information on how you can help Mrs. Lewis, send an email to Keri Hill at hillk@apps.anderson1.org.