March 21, 2017
By KEITH RYAN CARTWRIGHT
Rutherford County Schools
Riverdale High School and the Murfreesboro community is mourning the passing of Leah Smallwood.
Over the past four years, Smallwood, 9, became known as ‘the little Warrior princess.’
In February 2012, at the age of 4, she was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma. Smallwood braved the fight against childhood cancer, and in 2014, when the students at Riverdale first began their annual fundraiser for St. Baldrick’s Foundation, she became the inspiration for the fundraising efforts of students and faculty members.
Smallwood’s ties to Riverdale cut deep into its history.
Her father Michael attended the school and played football for the Warriors. At the time he grew close with assistant coach Lamar Davis, who has championed the annual fundraising efforts for the fight against childhood cancer.
Her older siblings attend Riverdale.
“We call her our honorary Warrior princess,” said Davis, a faculty member at Riverdale and currently the swimming coach.
“Yeah, she was,” agreed Riverdale Principal Tom Nolan. “She was definitely the rallying point. She has ties to Riverdale … and it made it personal (for everyone involved in raising funds).”
Following a series of chemotherapy and radiation treatments and multiple surgeries, Smallwood was pronounced cancer-free last year. Unfortunately, eight months later she contracted leukemia and earlier this year she underwent a bone marrow transplant.
She succumbed to the disease Sunday, in Nashville, at Vanderbilt’s Monroe Carrell Jr. Children’s Hospital.
“From a principal’s standpoint, it’s the toughest thing that you’ll ever have to do,” said Nolan, who became emotional talking about the loss of Smallwood. “It was real tough. It’s like losing one of my own students. It’s that kind of tough.
“She’s been a major part of our Riverdale family for years. She was at about every ballgame, came to pep rallies. It was just always good to see her little smiling face.”
Nolan said students, faculty and staff rallied around one another on Monday.
They cried.
They hugged.
They lent one another a shoulder to lean on.
And they cried some more.
“They’ll get through it,” Nolan said of the resolve the Warriors have shown.
Smallwood may not have been of this Earth for long, but her presence looms large in the Riverdale community.
Her memory inspired a wave of new donations on Monday.
Timing of her passing “was real weird,” said Nolan, referring to Friday’s annual fundraiser. Students and organizers had set a goal this year of raising $30,000. Friday afternoon their fund was at $29,000, but by Monday afternoon, as news of Smallwood’s passing was made public, the fund ballooned to more than $30,500.
“It’s bigger than us,” Nolan said, “and I think our kids knew that.”
Because of Smallwood, students have a better understanding of how important their donations are and, like past years, it was collected one dollar at a time.
That’s how the students at Riverdale High School have raised $66,000 in the past four years for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation and the ongoing fight on behalf of childhood cancer research.
Riverdale raised $29,000 on Friday afternoon in which 63 students and faculty members shaved their heads for the cause.
“This happens because of the student council,” Davis said. “This happens because Mr. Nolan allows it to happen. This happens because of our involvement of the student body.
“It’s amazing to see it all come together.”
It all started in 2014 when then student body President Melanie Brunfield approached Davis with the idea. That year, 18 people had their heads shaved and the school raised $4,000 for St. Baldrick’s.
In 2015, the numbers increased to 48 and $11,000. Last year, 72 people volunteered to have their heads shaved and the school raised $20,500.
They collect the money $1 at time beginning in August.
Students pass out buckets during sporting events, and on the last Friday of every month throughout the school year, students collect $1 bills at school. The fund also benefits from other donations from clubs and organizations at the school as well as outside sources.
“It just keeps on growing,” Nolan said on Friday afternoon. “Our kids do a lot of great things and this is just one of them. … Our student body has always been willing to step in and help people. They’re very helpful. We just have a real good group of kids.
“We hope that we’re making a difference.”
Funeral arrangements include an opportunity for the public to pay their respects on Friday evening from 5-9 p.m. at Woodfin Funeral Chapels (1488 Lascassas). A funeral is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.