NEW SHARON — On March 22 “The Talkin Travelers” from Cape Cod Hill School in New Sharon were announced as the winner of the “Laugh Art Loud” middle level challenge at the Destination Imagination state competition. As winners, they received a special invitation to go to Global Finals in Tennessee in May.

Coach Lynn Wells was proud —  and by the end of the day, stressed and worried. To take the team to Global Finals would cost each team member between $1,000 and $1,500 to take the trip.

Wells sat down the with team and the parents to explain the predicament. The team said, “We can do it!”

“The truth was, I was skeptical,” Well said. They only had about five weeks to meet their goal.

Over the next three weeks, the team and the parents worked around the clock. They did fundraiser after fundraiser. Their determination was impressive and the fundraising was bringing in some funds.

Then the most amazing thing happened. Community donations started pouring into the school. The team received donations from businesses, family members and community members. They had heard about the team’s hard work in the paper, or saw team members raising awareness about Destination Imagination in the community.

It took the team only three weeks to raise the money needed to go to Global Finals in Tennessee with the generous support of the community. The Destination Imagination team from Cape Cod Hill School would like to give a humongous thank-you to those in the community that donated and/or supported their fundraising efforts.