Coming up with creative ways to raise money is a forte of Laurie Reitz. "Everyone who works with kids — the teachers, the bus drivers, the secretaries — everyone is always so generous. I just like to come up with ways to make it fun," said Reitz, a member of the Lake Shore Central Teachers Association.

She's done 50/50 and quilt raffles, even "gone bald for bucks" — getting pledges for high school teacher Tony George to shave his head.

Last year, she and daughters Andrea and Jillian were back-to-school shopping when they spied a special stuffed animal — a pink pig.

"I immediately thought of the breast cancer walk because everything is pink," Reitz said.

Things kept getting rosier.

First the pig got a name: Petunia. Then a plan: Petunia's first possession became a journal. In order to take the pig home, students or staffers had to give money and had to write about their time with Petunia.

Petunia developed a personality and an aversion to ham subs as noted in the first journal entry of Aug. 23, 2006. She started making the rounds at Highland Elementary School.

She made a grand appearance during the 2006 American Cancer Society's Making Strides against Breast Cancer Walk in Buffalo.

Then, Petunia became too popular.

"It is a great idea to encourage writing, and all the kids want to read about what's happened with Petunia, but I found kids didn't want to give her up," Reitz said.

As a fund-raiser, Petunia didn't really bring home the bacon. She only made it to three of the seven schools in the Lake Shore district, raising about $160 over nine months. In fact, Petunia got more on a daily basis during a short stint over the summer at Connor's Hot Dog Stand at the Sturgeon Point Marina.

"People gave money so Petunia would not become a hot dog!" Reitz said laughing. "We got $35.35 in a couple of weeks."

Still, Petunia will continue to make the rounds this year. "We can't give up on her yet," said Jillian, who will be a high school sophomore this year. "She's just developing her fan base." Her mom agrees.

"Besides I don't have an idea that's as much fun as this one yet," said Reitz, who promises to bring Petunia to the Making Strides walk at the end of this month in Buffalo. Walks will also be in Binghamton, Rochester and Syracuse Sept. 30, in Utica Oct. 14 and in nine sites Oct. 21.

It's not always about fun. Reitz turns serious as she notes she participates in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks each year and works to raise money for a number of colleagues who are breast cancer survivors or currently undergoing treatment for the disease; for her daughters and for herself.

"I don't have anyone in my immediate family who has breast cancer, but the sad facts are that the odds are someone will face that fight eventually," Reitz said. "The best way we can fight it is through research and that takes money. And that's why I'm proud that my union is a flagship sponsor for the walks."

NYSUT is in its sixth year as a flagship sponsor. Last year, union members across the state collected $873,000 with over 9,000 walkers. Maria Neira, the union's vice president who leads the ACS initiative as a sponsor, announced this year's goal is to have 10,000 walkers raising $1 million.

"Our members are ready to walk the walk of a lifetime," Neira said at an ACS August kickoff event.

— Betsy Sandberg