Students Quadruple Newspaper Sales for Disease Foundation

Remember the story of a sweet  student who created and sold a newspaper to support a young boy and his disease?

, and her classmates, did it again—nearly quadrupling their sales.

Last summer, Ranallo heard of ' story and educated herself with primary ciliary dyskinesia, a disorder unknown to many and one the 11-year-old has suffered with since birth.

Earlier this year, the fifth-grader read "The School Story" by Andrew Clements, a story where the children publish a book. 

Ranallo told Patch she knew she wanted to do a fundraiser and she felt PCD was the perfect cause.

The first 43-page issue of The McMurray Star Gazette raised $130 for the PCD Foundation. The second time around, just before school let out, Ranallo and her team of writers raised approximately $600.

The paper sold for 25 cents a copy.

In early June, Lori, Braedon’s mother, presented Ranallo and her peers at McMurray Elementary with a Certificate of Excellence from the foundation.

“I was just blown away with Arianna and the students,” Lori said. “It was an emotional day.”

Lori said it was overwhelming and brought tears to her eyes.

“Arianna is such a team leader for her age," she said. "And, to see that many kids so caring and interested in the disease, I was so impressed.”

She said the students stayed and talked with her about PCD.

“They asked questions about Braedon for 45 minutes,” she said. “They were so intelligent. They were asking about the genetics of the disease. I could tell some of their parents must be doctors."

So what’s next for Ranallo, the aspiring writer and philanthropist? Lori approached her and a group of kids to write a book for kids with PCD.

“They were all about it,” Lori said.

Keep your eyes peeled for that greathearted piece of journalism.

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