As athletes around the world are gearing up for the Beijing Summer Olympics, the Shorewood High School student council members are preparing for Olympics of their own.

According to Angelica Hutchins, senior and vice president of student council, the Shorewood Games are “basically the school’s cool version of the Olympics,” and a tradition that occurs every three years.

Lisa Bromley, the teacher in charge of the games, explained that the original purpose of the games is to serve as a big fundraiser, in which “the money raised goes to the MACC (Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer) Fund.”

The first Shorewood Games were held in 1988 in an effort to help Gus Rich, a Shorewood High student at the time and a victim of childhood cancer. The games provided entertainment during lunch hours, and raised funds for the MACC Fund. Thanks to efforts of many people, Rich is now a healthy father of two boys, and still comes back to Shorewood to help kick off the Shorewood Games.

The last Shorewood Games set the record for the most money raised through the event at $22,063. The bar has been set much higher this year. “We want to try to break $32,000 [as our] goal,” said Hutchins.

According to Bromley, this year’s games will start in late April, and include “two weeks of Olympic style events, where the four classes will compete in sporting and fundraising events,” as well as another possible school dance, in addition to Prom, as a closing ceremony to the games.

Some of the events such as lunch basketball, buzz cuts, soccer, dodge ball, and the penny war may be open to the high school students only, whereas events like the community pasta dinner, raffles, and the fun-run/walk are open to all members of the Shorewood community. Thus the whole community of Shorewood can be involved in raising money for fighting childhood cancer. “There are too many [events] to count,” said Hutchins, but it will help “to unite each grade and to unite the school.”

The rumor of this year’s additional school dance has been going around the school, but has yet to be confirmed. “We are still not sure,” said Madeline Kelly, senior and student council treasurer. “We’ve been trying to make it happen since freshman year [2004-2005], and it would be a good closing ceremony to the game,” added Hutchins.

The points earned from games and fundraisers will be added up for each class. In the end, the class with the most points will receive gold medal T-shirts. “So far, the seniors have always won the games,” said Bromley. Kelly and Hutchins both agree that this year will not be an exception to the tradition. “The seniors are usually the most hyped,” said Hutchins, but assured that there is no unfair advantage for the senior class. “We tell everybody that it’s fair,” said Kelly, and promised “it’s going to be fun.”