TIM WEIGHT/FOR THE EXPRESS A clatter of skeletons gather ‘round for a pool party to raise money for St. Jude.

TIM WEIGHT/FOR THE EXPRESS
A spine of skeletons enjoy some fun in the sun — wearing proper eyewear, of course.

BELLEFONTE — A band of skeletons in Bellefonte are making waves to help drown out childhood cancer.

The undead pool party at 1291 Pine Circle in Bellefonte, dreamed up by Nancy Saxton-Mattie and her family, is raising money to combat childhood cancer for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The display stars the towering, 12-foot-tall skeleton, the “Big LeBoneski,” and his friends as they enjoy a bone chilling dip in the pond, which transforms from pool party by day to a hot tub party by night. Resident witches Hansel and Gretel are, of course, on hand as well to serve up some deadly punch to the rest of the skeleton crew!

The fundraiser, Skeletons for St. Jude, is a nationwide effort of “haunters” to raise over $100,000 for St. Jude during the Halloween holiday season. The campaign, which includes nearly 1,000 homes, has raised $154,810 so far this year and nearly $800,000 in its first four.

In their first two years decorating their home, the Matties raised $3,290 from the generous donations of family, friends and the Bellefonte community. This year, the Mattie family is now over 90 percent of the way to their $1,500 fundraising goal.

Donations to St. Jude Children’s hospital are allocated across several key areas, including patient care and treatment, research and development, education, infrastructure and outreach, to support its mission of treating and curing serious pediatric diseases.

“Their goal is to raise as much money as possible to help get sick children well and out of the hospital so they too can enjoy these fun Halloween and holiday displays,” said Nancy Saxton-Mattie.

She said her family does their part to help because “everyone knows someone impacted by cancer,” and the sooner we find a cure, the better. The joy the display brings the community is just a bonus.

Skeletons for St. Jude hopes to break their $1 million fundraising goal by 2025, and they are most of the way there.

For those interested in helping Skeletons for St. Jude achieve their goal, you can visit fundraising.stjude.org/goto/TheBigLeboneski23, or scan the QR code at the display at 1291 Pine Circle in Bellefonte. All cash donations will be made under “Friends of The Big LeBoneski,” and all donations will go directly to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.