NILES — For the past week, teachers at Brandywine Middle and High School have been battling to see who can raise the most money for the Berrien County Cancer Service’s fundraiser Pennies for Patients.

The penny war was initiated by the Brandywine Key Club. Throughout the challenge, students picked which teacher’s jar they wanted to put their pennies in. The friendly competition came to a head Thursday when the three teachers and the assistant principal, who were pitted against one another for the challenge, tallied up their cash and announced a winner during an assembly.

But this was no average assembly.

Specially for the event, the teachers in the competition wore costumes. Patrick Stier, a computer science teacher, donned a cluster of grapes outfit, while history teacher David Roeder and math teacher Terry Borr dressed as video game character Luigi and Mario. Assistant principal Josh Hood wore a wig of curly black hair and a midriff shirt and matching pants. Hood completed the outfit with a pair of maracas. The foursome showed off their outfits to the cheers of students as Key Club treasurer Dalton Knapp announced final numbers.

Students raised a total of $1,212.52. Roeder raised $20.13, followed by Stier who raised $341.25. Hood raised $425.23 and Borr, the first-place winner, raised $425.74.

Knapp said the Key Club was inspired to do the project when they were contacted by Nancy Church, the executive director of the Berrien County Cancer Service. Through the nonprofit organization, cancer patients who could not otherwise afford home care are provided a nurse. Local cancer patients also are given access to medical equipment and other care services.

“What is so amazing about what we do is that we are able to go to the homes of people who would not otherwise have nursing care,” Church said. “Because chemotherapy does not make you eligible to have a nurse come and care for you.”

To help amp up the profits for the cause, Borr told students that those who donated $10 to his jar would get the chance to shove a whipped cream pie in his face. For $1, students could have their name entered into a drawing to hit him with a pie.

Knapp said the Key Club expected students to raise about $200, so he was surprised and grateful when students exceeded that goal by much more than anticipated.

“It’s crazy unexpected,” Knapp said. “We were not expecting this at all.”

For her part, Church told students she was tremendously grateful that they banded together to support the organization.

“You young people can make such a difference,” Church said.

The community is also invited to support the Berrien County Cancer Services 29th annual Pennies for Patients fundraiser. On May 10, there will be two drop-off locations available for people to donate, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, May 10, at the Berrien County Cancer Services office, 7301 Red Arrow Highway in Stevensville. In Niles, a drop-off location will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the St. John’s United Church of Christ, 601 Sycamore St. After May 10, people can still donate to the fundraiser through May 31.

“It was so amazing to see the enthusiasm of Brandywine High School and Middle School students and their faculty,” Church said. “This money will help so we can provide skilled nursing services here in the Niles and surrounding communities.”