Boy with cancer works to save penguins

Penguins in peril have a lot of friends at Salem South Elementary School in Port Washington, thanks to a first-grade boy who read about their plight while recovering from chemotherapy.

Aghelos Kouvaras, 6, whose interest in saving penguins inspired a fundraising drive at the school and the community, will join teachers, parents and students from his school Saturday in the Wildlife Conservation Society's third annual Run for the Wild at the Bronx Zoo.

"The whole school has rallied around him and supported him," said his mother, Elizabeth Kouvaras. "Never did I think that other people were going to help us with this cause, but they did and that is amazing."

Aghelos has missed most of the school year and been in and out of the hospital for the past eight months receiving aggressive chemotherapy treatments for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. During his fight against the form of cancer, Aghelos decided he wanted to help save penguins after reading the book "The Penguin Problem," part of the "Ready, Freddy!" series by Abby Klein. In the book, the main character launches a penny drive to save penguins.

"They're cute and they waddle cute," Aghelos said Tuesday. "They're getting extinct and I want to save them."

Aghelos and his supporters have already raised more than $3,000 for the Run for the Wild and are working to raise more before race day, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society. Donations to Team Aghelos can be made online at runforthewild.org.

In addition to Aghelos' class, the first grade became involved and the effort spread throughout the K-5 school. Fundraiser sales of penguin-themed merchandise were held and children emptied their piggy banks for the cause. "Each of our grade levels does an outreach project," said Principal Chris Shields. "When in communication with the family, we heard he was passionate about saving the penguins."

Aghelos spent his first full day in class Tuesday but his teacher, Elyssa Kanterman, kept his classmates in contact with him throughout the school year. His schoolmates made posters that were displayed throughout the school with the saying: "Save the Penguins."

"He just lit up from ear to ear," she said. "He couldn't believe that something that was so dear to him . . . everybody's embraced it."

The Run for the Wild will be held at the Bronx Zoo on Saturday. The 5k race begins at 8:30 a.m. and the family fun run/walk begins at 8:45 a.m.

"Aghelos is an encouragement to everyone at WCS," said John Calvelli, WCS executive vice president of public affairs. "His work to raise money to save penguins while fighting his own battle is inspirational."