Pies fly for good cause at Dalton
Dalton Elementary School Principal Jim Gray and first-grader Jackson Beckenhauer, who has Lymphatic Hodgkin's Lymphoma, wish family, friends and students a merry Christmas during the school's Christmas assembly.(LOREN BENOIT/Press)
To show the support for Dalton Elementary student Jackson Beckenhauer, and families fighting cancer, Kootenai County Sheriff School Resource Deputy Doug Goodwin receives a pie in the face by fourth-grader Ian Dahlin Friday morning at the school's Christmas assembly. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
Kootenai County Sheriff School Resource Officer Doug Goodman wipes his face after receiving a pie in the face Friday morning at Dalton Elementary School. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
Dalton Elementary School fifth-graders sing "Twelve Days of Christmas" Friday morning during the school's Christmas assembly. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
Dalton Elementary School physical education teacher Clark Campbell grimaces after receiving a pie in the face during the school's Christmas assembly. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
Students in the Dalton Elementary School choir fling their hats into the air at the end of the school's Christmas assembly on Friday. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
By DEVIN WEEKS
Staff Writer
Teachers, a Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office deputy and brothers of 7-year-old Jackson Beckenhauer gladly took pies to the face during a spirited assembly at Dalton Elementary this morning.
The school’s community and KCSO together raised more than $9,000 to give to Jackson and his family. Jackson, a first-grader, is undergoing treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer that attacks the lymphatic system.
“I’m just really caught off guard by everything,” said Jackson’s mom, Kelli. “We’re really humbled and thankful to the school and the community and for the outpouring of love and support.”
Jackson, who was all smiles after slamming a pie into his big brother Gavin’s face, said it was “awesome!”
“I was trying to mess up his hair. I was trying to hit him right here,” he said, pointing to his forehead. “I messed up his hair and got it on his face.”
Dalton Principal Jim Gray also said the morning was “awesome.
“The ability for people to give without the intention to get, that’s what this little guy’s given us,” Gray said.