Trojan Man Takes to TV to Fight Cancer Monday AM

Fighting cancer has been one of Trojan Man's major causes for some time now.

Trojan Man, the big-headed Pottstown High School mascot who seems to be everywhere at once, will be on your TV screen Monday morning if you have it tuned to the right channel.

At 9:30 a.m. Feb. 20, the ubiquitous Trojan Man will appear on Good Day Philadelphia on Fox 29. He has been invited to take part in the Lace Up and Twist Away Childhood Cancer national tour by Mascots 4 a Cure, according to a post on Dave Woodley's Facebook page.

Dave Woodley with a photo of the first time Trojan Man

became something more than a mascot.

Many of you will remember that Woodley is the high school's Management Information Systems teacher as well as a 2003 graduate of the school.

As The Mercury reported at the start of this school year, it was Woodley who has led the charge to transform the school mascot from a guy in a dorky costume who does push-ups at football games to a region-wide symbol for community involvement.

Not one to waste an opportunity for doing good in the City of Brotherly Love, Trojan Man will then head over to Rosa's Fresh Pizza with $472 raised in Pottstown where he will buy 472 slices of pizza for the homeless.

Acting Pottstown Superintendent Stephen Rodriguez

got some help from the Color Guard for his video.

After lunch, Woodley posted that Trojan Man will take part in a Lace Up and Twist Away Cancer Rally at the iconic Liberty Bell.

On Feb. 27, TM will participate in his first hospital visit with Mascots 4 a Cure at duPont Hospital as part of the national tour.

Throughout 2016 and into this year, Woodley has affiliated Trojan Man with “Mascots For a Cure,” which has teamed up with the #TwistChallenge to raise money to fight childhood cancer.

Some of you may recall “the ice bucket challenge” of two years ago, a video craze which swept the nation and, in the process, raised more than $42 million for research into ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

The “#TwistChallenge” works on the same principle.

A video is taken of a person or group of people dancing to “The Twist” for 36 seconds in recognition of the 36 children who are diagnosed with cancer each day, according to the campaign’s statistics.

(Here is the video made at all four Pottstown Elementary Schools)


That video is posted on social media with challenges being made to another group or individual. Those participating making a donation.

(Here is Acting Superintendent Stephen Rodriguez's video:)



Not to be outdone by Rodriquez, or the elementary schools, or even the Pottstown School Board, which also twisted to fight cancer, all of Pottstown High School undertook the challenge at the Pep Rally in September.


Apparently, all this twisting has not gone unnoticed and now Trojan Man will join other mascots on television tomorrow morning to help raise even more money to fight childhood cancer.

Won't you tune in and watch and perhaps donate?

Well done Trojans.

A Pep Rally With a Twist(Challenge)

Photos by Evan Brandt

Senior athletes and musicians were recognized Thursday during the Pottstown High School pep rally.

Thursday was not your grandfather's pep rally at Pottstown High School.

Not only was there the usual raft of music, games like musical chairs and tug of war, there was also an effort to help fight childhood cancer.

Both sides of a human Battleship match-up.

Part of the #TwistChallenge being promoted by @MascotsForaCure, the idea is to dance t the Chubby Checker classic for 36 seconds, signifying the number of children who are diagnosed with cancer each day.

You can't have a pep rally without cheerleaders.

This may well be the first time an entire high school has undertaken the challenge. Already in
Pottstown, the school board and acting superintendent Stephen Rodriguez have done it, along with a dozen other staff members and students.

Its a demonstration of the Trojan spirit that even in the midst of celebrating themselves, they can take the time to recognize and address the troubles of others.

Well done Trojans.

Don't forget to come to homecoming versus Pottsgrove on Saturday, at 2:30 p.m. at Grigg Memorial Stadium.

Here is a little video sampling of what went on:



For even more, check out the Tweets below:

Pottstown School Board Twists the Night Away

Photo by Evan Brandt

Stephen Rodriguez, acting superintendent of the Pottstown School District, really seemed to enjoy his star turn with the Pottstown High School Color Guard Thursday night when they undertook the #twistchallenge to raise awareness about the fight against childhood cancer.

So, little did I know it, but apparently my 'Bucket List' included watching acting Schools Superintendent Stephen Rodriguez, Trojan Man and members of the Pottstown School Board (yes, you read that right, the Pottstown School Board) cut the rug to Chubby Checker's classic "The Twist."

Consider that bucket filled.

Sure, there was news last night.

We got an update on the campaign to raise money to replace the lights in Grigg Stadium.

And a decision was made on how to move forward with replacing School Board Vice President Andrew Kefer, who resigned last week to move to West Virginia.

There was even a presentation on a vote that could ultimately save school tax payers $1 million.

But folks, I have to tell you, watching Rodriguez and the school board members twisting away like dervishes is something you just have to sit back and take a moment to appreciate.

Things like this don't happen ever day you know.

Like the Ice Bucket Challenge which preceded it (you all remember that right?), the #TwistChallenge was brought to the board by member Emanuel Wilkerson and the Trojan Man mascot, who was there representing Mascots for a Cure.

Apparently Trojan Man has been running around all over the place issuing this challenge and, Wilkerson announced last night, Pottstown High School is the first place to take up the challenge, thanks to Trojan Man's efforts.

Here is the shortened version of Rodriguez's post board-meeting happy feet ...




And yes, the school board danced too.

And if you think Mr. Rodriguez dancing was something, wait until you see this school board cut the rug....






Now that you can't get that image out of your heads, here are the Tweets.