Lone Peak High School is continuing its tradition of service this year, with a goal to donate $30,000 to the Huntsman Cancer Institute via the Jason Long Foundation.

The school kicked off its Gold Rush service season Nov. 16 with assemblies explaining the type of person Jason Long was, and the reason behind the Student Council's choice of focusing on his foundation this year.

Jason Long was a star player on the football team at LPHS. He graduated from LPHS in 2005, and had dreams of playing at BYU after his LDS mission in Pennsylvania. But while on his mission, he contracted an aggressive form of leukemia and came home for treatment. Despite treatment at the Huntsman Cancer Hospital, and a bone marrow transplant from his younger sister, he died this September at the age of 21.

"He wasn't a big kid, but he played big, and he played tough. He got your attention," said Lone Peak administrative secretary Laurie Anderson during the assembly. "But I think Jason knew even at that age that winning wasn't everything."

Football coach Monte Morgan, who worked closely with Jason, echoed that same sentiment.

"Even when things were not going his way, his positive attitude was infectious," said Morgan.

Anderson cried as she recalled Jason's senior dance where he and his girlfriend, Paige Palmer, had promised to save the last dance for each other. But Jason saw a girl in a wheelchair who had not danced, and he asked her to dance with him.

Anderson encouraged students to get involved in this year's service, first by attending the WORP dance Nov. 17, the first fundraiser with all proceeds going to the foundation.

"Boys, get out of your attitude and take some girl to the dance, ask a girl, just like Jason did," said Anderson.

The dance was a success, raising $1,500, said LPHS teacher Gary Dunn. Dunn is the Student Council advisor overseeing this year's Gold Rush. He said he's been impressed with how much that has been raised so far.

"Just last Monday and Tuesday before break, we collected about $2,000, just from the kids donating in class and at lunch," said Dunn in an interview Monday.

Dunn said the Gold Rush lasts until Dec. 20, and many students have signed up to do a variety of service jobs to earn money. Student groups will start caroling for funds next week. He met with the Student Council and student volunteers Tuesday to generate specific projects students can tackle to raise funds.

"We're looking at random acts of service, like shoveling snow, cleaning yards, moving dirt, various odd jobs the kids can do to make money," said Dunn.

The fundraising can continue after the Gold Rush push, though, Dunn said. Donations will be taken all the way until February, when the school will present its earnings to the Foundation during its Freedom Assembly.