Drama Students Forego Sleep to Keep a Friend’s Memory Alive

GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP – Anyone concerned that today’s students don’t get involved in local causes, shouldn’t lose any sleep over it. Members of the Absegami High School Drama Club did it for them, for a particular cause.

“On April 28, 2007 the Emanon Players lost one of its most beloved members with the death of Kevin Ade, an Absegami graduate who was killed in a traffic accident by a drunk driver,” said Charles “Chip” Garrison, the school’s drama teacher.

“Not even a month later, the members of the Emanon Players banded together and held their first annual all night Drama-Thon on Sunday, May 27.” Club members raised more than $2,000 through donations from families and friends that will go to the Hero Campaign in Kevin Ade’s name, Garrison said.

“Twenty-six students stayed up all night playing improvisational theater games, holding performance workshops, performing skits and watching movies,” Garrison said. “With plenty of home-baked snacks, the students stayed up all night and spent time together having fun and remembering their good friend, Kevin.”

The drama teacher said the idea fit the occasion. “This was a great night for everyone,” he said. “We work so hard through the year, and it was nice to just relax and have a good time together. Kevin was such a special student and was so loved by everyone here. He would have loved this night – a night with a lot of laughs, good movies and some snacks.”

For more information on the HERO Campaign call 1-866-700-HERO (4376)

All high school students in Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland Counties were eligible to enter, and entries ranged from Buena Regional High School to Lower Cape May.

The HERO Campaign was launched following the death of Navy Ensign John R. Elliott, who was killed in a head-on collision with a drunk driver in July, 2000. The campaign’s goals include raising awareness of the dangers of drunk driving and keeping drunk drivers off our roads.

“We enjoyed working with NBC TV40 and Avalon Limousine Service in helping to increase awareness of the dangers of drunk driving, and helping to spread the word in a fun and positive way,” said HERO Campaign Education Coordinator Annette Hughes. “We were very impressed with some of the interesting ideas our high school students came up with.”

Further information on the HERO Campaign can be found at www.herocampaign.org, by calling (609) 272-0100 – or by writing to The HERO Campaign, PO Box 700, Somers Point, NJ 08244.

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