The Camp Kemo Charity Drive is a favorite annual tradition for Airport High School — but this year’s campaign was just a bit more special.

That’s because the Lexington 2 school presented its largest donation ever Thursday night to Prisma Health Children’s Hospital and Camp Kemo: $78,013. The amount included fundraising from last year’s campaign, which was cut short amid covid-19. Several Airport Class of 2020 graduates also pitched in this year.

“Our school had to really rally around this charity week, to continue the tradition, and they took the extra cleaning protocols and paid special attention to all aspects of keeping our students safe,” said Daniel Bailey, one of Airport’s Student Council advisors.

While some of this year’s events were curtailed amid covid-19, popular ones including the car smash, flamingo flocks, and 4th Block Throwdown were among the week’s headliners.

“We are extremely proud of our students, staff, administration, families and local businesses that supported us in our efforts,” Bailey said.

This was the 27th year of the Camp Kemo Charity Drive, which has raised nearly $600,000 through the years to send kids with cancer or blood disorders to Camp Kemo.

“Knowing how dear and important Camp Kemo is to us, our Student Council, the student body, and teachers were all eager to put in their best effort to execute these events and to make the week as a whole very special,” said Isha Bojang, Airport’s student body president. “It was a different experience this year, but I can definitely say that we made the best out of it and I am super proud of my council.”

It costs between $800 and $1000 to send a child to camp, and the amount raised this year will send roughly 78 kids to camp at no cost.

“We continue to raise money for Camp Kemo every year because of how close this organization is not only to our home, but to our hearts,” said Sydney Coleman, student body vice president. “Not only does our council put in time and effort in organizing and carrying out this event, but we are also given the opportunity every summer to go and visit during the week of Camp Kemo, where our members get to see firsthand the smiles on these kids’ faces.”