On a freezing March afternoon, 24 children and adults braved cold water for a good cause on Hendricks Head Beach. The annual Leprechaun Leap, usually pulling in $1,000 to $3,000 for Special Olympics and local special education, saw Zander Blake come close to a personal effort to raise more than $1,000.

Blake’s ultimate goal started after raising just over $700. He knew that with little time left to surpass the $800, individual record for the Leap, he likely would not receive the winning prize of $100. Blake’s mother then brought the fundraiser to work where coworkers helped push Blake up to $925.

Teacher Toby LeConte said because Blake is autistic, it is difficult for him to get excited, but not to obtain an obsessive focus toward a goal. So, once he reached $925, Blake prioritized again realizing it would not take very much to reach $1,000. Unfortunately, too much time had passed to get the word out one more time, and Blake was not able to reach his new goal.

As for his raising $925, a feat in itself, LeConte said it was no doubt a bummer to the 9-year-old only $75 away from rounding his donation up to a historic high for the Leapers. However, days after the Boothbay Register article covering the Leprechaun Leap went online, LeConte received a call from Meredith and Jeanette MacKusick who wanted to help Blake reach his goal. A few days later, LeConte had an envelope on her desk with Blake’s name on it.

LeConte asked the class to gather around the front of the room because she had something very special to present to Blake. The students made a crescent shape at the blackboard as LeConte fetched the envelope while recounting the story of the phone call from the MacKusicks and a letter that came in the mail for Blake.

“He read the article about Zander wanting to raise a thousand dollars for the Leprechaun Leap, so we’re going to come up and see what’s coming out of this letter,” LeConte said to the class as she gathered the students closer to Blake as he opened the envelope.

LeConte read the note aloud for everyone to hear: “Please accept this with my greatest admiration for you participating in the Leprechaun Leap, a check for $75.”

“So, now you’re over the thousand Zander!” said LeConte. “Good for you!”

After asking the class to be seated, LeConte turned to Blake and asked him how it feels to have raised $1,000 for Special Olympics and special education.

Said Blake with a rare smile, “Happy.”