Shawnee schools raise money for Barrett Strong Foundation in penny war

Clark-Shawnee schools raised $1,500.26 for the Barrett Strong Foundation and presented a check to the charity Friday at halftime of the football game between Shawnee and Northwestern high schools at Taylor Field.

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The money was raised in a student-initiated penny war at Shawnee Middle School and High School.

“Thank you to the Shawnee Braves for the support and donation presented tonight at the football game!!!” the Barrett Strong Foundation posed to Facebook. “This past week the student body at Shawnee competed in a penny war. EVERY PENNY COUNTS in finding a cure for pediatric cancer!!!!”

The Barrett Strong Foundation was started in honor of Barrett Fitzsimmons, the Northwestern Elementary School student who died at 9 in May after a three-year cancer battle.

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Shawnee players ran through a "#BarrettStrong" banner before the game Friday. Earlier this season, Northwestern retired the No. 38 in honor of Fitzsimmons, and the jersey hung over the bench on Friday during the game against Shawnee.