About eight years ago, Gavin Howard was riding in the car with his family when he started listening to the St. Jude Telethon. Little did he know that what he heard would be something he’s now dedicated more than half of his life to.
“Hearing all the stories that they tell on it, kids that were my age and they were losing their life to cancer, it didn’t seem realistic to me,” Howard said. “You think it’s not real until it hits something close to home.”
Howard didn’t waste any time and started to raise money that very year. It started with his birthday money and a few donations, but it’s grown every year.
“My fourth year, I started doing shirts,” he said. “We got it out there with social media. I think that’s the main reason how it’s influenced all the money that I’ve raised.”
Going to school in Whitesville and being from Knottsville, Howard said the close-knit community has been a big help for him.
His venture has even made its way into the schools.
“It’s like family,” he said. “There’s nothing like it. Everybody is always asking ‘when’s the new shirt coming out.?’ The school has done penny wars and stuff, and we’ve raised thousands of dollars through that too.”
But before his school got involved, Howard’s family was with him in the beginning and has been there every step of the way.
“When I first did it, they were supportive of it,” he said. “They were always telling me I was doing a good thing and we never really thought anything about it being this big. Every single year, we’re always getting the shirts, getting the orders in. Separating shirts out in the living room. We have them laid across all throughout.”
To date, Howard has helped raise more than $30,000 for the kids of St. Jude.
“It really doesn’t even seem realistic to me,” he said. “It just feels like I’m just bringing in my birthday money again every year, different numbers and things. We sit in the car, count it up. I’m shown the total and I’m blown away by it every single year.”
Howard has never been able to make the trip to St. Jude because of his age, as visitors are required to be at least 16. It was Howard’s plan to make the trip to Memphis when he turned 16 this year, but because of COVID-19 restrictions he won’t be able to.
Despite not being able to visit a place that means so much to him, Howard said he got to FaceTime with one of the patients from St. Jude.
“It was kind of heartbreaking,” he said. “This kid is fighting for his life and I’m out here just having a great time with mine. It was almost like having another friend … You think they’re different but they’re just normal kids like me.”
Howard doesn’t have a goal each year, as he tries to do whatever he can.
Going forward, Howard said he has a few ideas to raise money. One is a concert, but he’s also interested in hosting tournaments in a few different sports.
Trinity Raider basketball coach Nathan West said Howard is doing everything he can for others.
“Gavin is the epitome of what it means to be a Trinity High School student-athlete,” West said. “He excels in three sports (cross country, basketball, and baseball), but he is always willing to offer a service for those in need. He is a great example to his classmates, and we are extremely proud of him.”
West said Howard’s giving doesn’t only impact his community but his teammates as well.
“I want his teammates and future Raiders to follow his example,” he said. “As a Catholic school, we are called to serve others every day, and Gavin has answered that call. Hopefully, from seeing his example, his peers and future Raiders will do the same.”
Howard said it’s great to know those around him recognize his hard work.
“It means a lot,” he said. “Not everybody knows that about me so when somebody like coach West says that, it really means a lot to me. I do the best I can in school, in sports and helping people. I just try as hard as I can no matter what I do.”
