Two bits, four bits, six bits, a dollar.

Students from South Whidbey Intermediate School hope to collect that much coin and more to help benefit the Leukemia Society this spring. Fourth, fifth and sixth-grade students are helping to raise funds by collecting coins for the annual Pennies for Patients.

Fourth grader Laura Barrow, a leukemia survivor, is the inspiration for her fellow students.

Funds raised through the effort will be used for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma research and for patient services.

The fund drive runs until March 15.

Debbie Barrow, Laura’s mother, a school paraeducator, and coordinator of the local Pennies for Patients program, said March 6 is nickel day, March 8 is dime day and March 13 is quarter day.

“Of course students can bring in whatever loose change they collect,” she said. “It is going for an excellent cause.”

The classroom that collects the most money for the fund will be given a pizza party. There will be other prizes such as computers, electronics and gift certificates presented to the top schools in each area from the society.

Since 1993 ,10 million elementary, middle and high school students have collected spare change, raising millions of dollars for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, according to press information from the society’s headquarters.

Pennies for Patients is one of several of the society’s national school and youth programs. This year, pop singer Mandy Moore will be serve as the 2002 National School and Youth Honorary Chairperson.

To demonstrate her support for the program, Moore will be visiting the top fund-raising school at the end of the school year.