Each year, the Kentucky chapters of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America LCHS FCCLA chapter promotes Sepsis Alliance Awareness (FCCLA) establish a State Outreach Project with a partner organization to reach the community and help work towards as cause. This year’s charity was the Sepsis Alliance.

Sepsis is the body’s overwhelming response to infection, which can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, amputations, and death. The disease ffects more than 1.6 million people in the United States annually – one every 20 seconds. The Sepsis Alliance is the largest Sepsis advocacy organization working in the U.S. with a stated mission to “save lives and reduce suffering by raising awareness of Sepsis as a medical emergency.”

The Logan County High School chapter of FCCLA has accepted the state organization’s outreach project and has been working to raise awareness about this common, yet little discussed disease. Last September, club officers attended Sepsis training and had opportunities to talk with victims of the disease.

For the week of October 23-27, the club held a Sepsis Awareness Week. Throughout the week, club members informed the student body about the disease by making daily, small group presentations.

The week’s culminating activity was a fundraiser. The fundraiser “Chuck the Change” consisted of buckets being placed at the school’s exits Friday afternoon. Students were encouraged to “chuck” their loose change into these buckets. Because of their efforts, approximately $105 will go to help educate the public about this dangerous condition, and possibly save lives.

LCHS junior and FCCLA Public Relations Officer Kate Malott helped with this article. The school’s local chapter is sponsored by Mrs. Joella Morrow and Mrs. Bridgette Hughes.

Additional information concerning Sepsis is available at Sepsis.org.