Bears will rock out in the name of leukemia

DOWNEY - Joining the ongoing fight against leukemia and other blood cancers, the Warren Bears are doing their part for humanity in a unique way this year with the Rockin' Against Leukemia Battle of the Bands Tournament, which will be held on March 9 at 6 p.m. in the Warren High School gym. The tournament, facilitated by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, is essentially a competition in which the best Guitar Hero band wins, all the while raising money for crucial blood cancer research. "I think it's a good way to raise money because it's a way for students to have fun in the Guitar Hero competition, and it's also for a really good cause," said sophomore Jose Castillo. The tournament will consist of all the Warren Guitar Hero bands that are formed and registered. Each band must have four members, and must submit a $100 fee in order to be a part of the tournament. A first deposit of $25 is due on Feb. 18, while the rest of the fee is due by March 4. Then, at the Battle of the Bands Tournament, all the submitted bands will go head to head to compete for the No. 1 Guitar Hero Band Title. In addition to bragging rights, every member of the winning team will also each receive their very own Guitar Hero World Tour game, and will move on to the Rockin' Against Leukemia Championships on April 24 at the Victor Lopez Auditorium located in Whittier to compete live against 30 other schools. The winner is selected according to the game score, judges' score, audience votes and applause meter, as the highest-scoring band will take home the title and the prize. Not only is this an exciting way for students to get involved and have fun with their fellow students, this tournament also acts as a creative outlet to raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. All funds raised through the registration of each band, as well as the entrance fees collected at the door of the tournament day, will be donated to contribute to the pivotal research that will hopefully enable the discovery of blood cancer cures. "It's great because we can raise a lot of money for cancer patients, while still having fun," said sophomore Amanda Chagollan. "And I like Guitar Hero because I can just hang out with my friends and play." Merging the urgent need to find a cure for blood cancers with the popularity of Guitar Hero, Warren is hoping for a great turnout and success with the Rockin' Against Leukemia event, particularly with high hopes to largely contribute to blood cancer research. The Rockin' Against Leukemia Championship particularly is expected to be a thrilling event, with celebrity judges, audience voting, and prize incentives. Tickets for the championship in April are being sold now at www.itsmyseat.com for $10 online. Registration for Guitar Hero bands will remain open until March 2. Any Warren student or faculty is allowed to congeal and form their own band to participate. Those who wish to register for the tournament may do so by contacting Warren ASB Director Cari White before the given deadline.

********** Published: February 19, 2010 - Volume 8 - Issue 44