Great Barrington — Lucy Doren, a senior at Monument Mountain Regional High School, loosely recalls the moment Team Monument Charley’s Fund was conceived of. It was sophomore year, and she and her good friend Charley Seckler were in Lisa Baldwin’s chemistry class when their teacher posed the question “Why don’t we raise money here?” as a logical segue to the students’ discussion of Charley’s Fund, a nonprofit founded by Dr. Benjy and Tracy Seckler of Alford in support of their son who, at the age of 3, was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
“We started [Team Monument] right there with that group of friends,” recalled Doren, who has been instrumental in the organization’s success over the past three years. “As far as I know, we are just trying to raise as much money as we can,” she added modestly, unfazed by the more than $20,000 these local teenagers have raised for research by selling raffle tickets, hosting car washes and organizing bake sales. The cause propelling students’ involvement in Team Monument is close to home and extremely personal: Charley Seckler, of the nonprofit’s moniker, is a senior at Monument and a major source of inspiration for his peers’ efforts to support life-changing advancements in medical research for him and 200,000 boys worldwide with Duchenne.
Gabe Davis-Hollander, a current junior, joined Team Monument midway through his freshman year; he knew Charley and thought it would be cool to help out, so he began volunteering at the farmers market in West Stockbridge selling food, T-shirts and stickers to raise money. In his sophomore year, he became more heavily involved, frequenting local businesses to solicit donations of gift cards for the club’s annual raffle. This year, Davis-Hollander has stepped up as a leader, helping to organize not only the raffle but also “Dine to Donate,” which will take place Friday, April 5, at the Marketplace Kitchen Table from 3 to 8 p.m. and on Friday, April 15, and Saturday, April 16, at the Barrington Brewery from 5 p.m. until closing. “This is the first time we’ve taken it really local,” said Davis-Hollander of the event he was instrumental in organizing. “I think this will be a big moneymaker and get the Great Barrington community to know that we have this really rare case of someone living with Duchenne right in our community—and the organization to support it started here and has grown from here,” he added.
Davis-Hollander, who works at the Marketplace Kitchen Table, approached manager Robby Robles about hosting the fundraiser at the ever-popular spot among high school students. “We all like to go to the Marketplace anyway,” he said. “Why not put our money towards a really great cause to benefit a person we actually know?” At each restaurant, 10 percent of all profits made will go directly to Charley’s Fund. As for Davis-Hollander, at present, his plan is to donate his time, a further testament to the passion stirred in these students who have been touched by Charley’s Fund and the important work it fuels.
As the founding members of Team Monument reach the tail end of their respective college application journeys (Charley will attend New York University in the fall), one thing remains clear: Monument students are passionate about rallying around their friend and classmate. “[Team Monument] grew that first year, [and] everyone was really, really involved,” recalled Doren. At present, things have tapered off. What began three years ago with more than 40 students showing up for early-morning meetings has dwindled to a dedicated core that hovers around 10 to 15. That said, Doren cited “a big wave of freshmen” stepping up to the plate this past year to join the mostly seniors and handful of sophomores and juniors in their important work. “It’s been interesting to watch 18-year-olds and 14-year-olds work together really closely and really well on a consistent basis,” said Doren. In fact, rising sophomores Lucie Mazursky and Ruby Citrin will take over the club’s leadership as co-presidents next year. “We have a ton of great fundraising ideas for next year,” Mazursky said. “Just because Charley is moving on from Monument doesn’t mean we’re going to stop. We are going to make it even bigger and better so we can help not only Charley but all kids with muscular dystrophy.”
Monument, like any American high school, is no stranger to fundraisers. Annually the campus hosts the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, the Special Olympics, and American Red Cross blood drives—important organizations that capture a wide range of people from coast to coast. But at the core of Team Monument is community. “Charley’s Fund is super local to us,” said Doren. “It’s about Charley, it started because of him and people know who Charley is. This feels really important and cool to be part of something like this,” she added. Davis-Hollander shares Doren’s sentiments. “It will be difficult,” he said, looking ahead to next year when Charley will be at NYU. “It’s a big incentive to have Charley there at the early morning meetings; it makes us remember why we are doing what we are doing. It will be harder, in his absence, to remember why we are doing this [work]…” he said before trailing off. “Hopefully we have a group of young leaders who will perpetuate what we [have been] trying to do. There’s no reason to give up, despite Charley going to college and moving on with his life.”
Founded by parents, fueled by the best minds in science and business, Charley’s Fund has one singular goal: Translate research promise into real-life results for Charley and 200,000 like him worldwide. Charley’s Fund is a small but mighty organization with a fierce spirit, a creative approach and a passionate community of supporters.
