Community invited to celebrate the life of Eric Champiney - Gateway ...

GATEWAY REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
12 Littleville Road Huntington, MA 01050
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Wendy V. Long, Public Relations
(413) 685­1003
Community invited to celebrate the life of Eric Champiney
Huntington – The entire community is invited to the “Champiney Challenge” at Gateway Regional
High School on Friday, May 13 th , beginning with a community picnic on Booster Field. It’s all part of a
special event organized by the Class of 2011 to honor their classmate Eric Champiney, who died of a
pre­existing heart condition in 2005.
Families and individuals may bring their own food, or purchase food at the Booster Shack. Music,
games and face painting are also planned, including a dodgeball game with an entry fee of $5 per 8­
person team.
A memorial walk will begin at 7:30 p.m., with a walk up Littleville Road to the base of Littleville Dam,
and a return to the school. When they get back, those attending will walk through lines of memorial
luminaries to the high school entrance. The Class of 2011 then invites the community to the
Gateway Performing Arts Center for reflections on Eric’s life. This will feature a film that classmates
Sam Cummings, Gabe Craig and Kevin Ray created as sixth graders to celebrate Eric. Eric’s mother
will be on hand for this event, which will include students reading essays they have written about
Eric.
The Class of 2011 is selling luminaries to the public for $5 each. Those interested may purchase a
ticket from any member of the senior class, or through the high school office (685­1102). Luminaries
may be personalized with a message to a loved one—simply write your message on the ticket.
The class has also reached out to include every classmate who was part of Gateway Regional Middle
School during their sixth grade year—the year that Eric died. Through phone calls, Facebook and
personal contact, almost all of their former classmates—who have moved away, gone to private
school, or to a vocational school—are returning to take part.
Everyone from the surrounding community is invited to take part, or to purchase a luminary for the
celebration. All funds raised from this event will be donated to the Make­A­Wish Foundation of
Massachusetts and Rhode Island in Eric’s memory.
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District telephone: (413) 685­1000 Fax: (413) 667­8739

Eric Champiney, who will be honored by the Gateway community and the Class of 2011
at the “Champiney Challenge” on May 13.
District telephone: (413) 685­1000 Fax: (413) 667­8739