GUELPH – One thousand one hundred student participants, four Catholic high schools, and one great cause.
Over $90,000 dollars was raised at the recent board-wide Relay For Life event hosted by Bishop Macdonell Catholic High school on May 24. The money will go to the Canadian Cancer Society.
It was the vision of 2014 St. James graduate Jacklyn Harrietha to unite the Wellington Catholic District School Board high school communities in the fight against cancer.
Since that year, Relay for Life has rotated among the WCDSB high school sites and grown in student participation.
This year’s committee was an amazing group of young student leaders.
They brought their energy, passion and strengths to make this event possible. The event is not only an incredible opportunity for students to learn but to work in collaboration with other student leaders across the school sites.
“As a staff advisor, I am extremely proud of what this very special group of individuals accomplished,” St. James teacher Stacey Fraser said.
Students listened to the stories of staff, students and family members who are cancer survivors. Teacher Dave Del Duca, encouraged and celebrated the students’ efforts to engage in making meaningful contributions to our community.
“It is easy to say that it has been one of the best experiences of my life,” said Grade 10 St. James student, Lia Kirkpatrick.
“I had the privilege of working alongside many dedicated teachers and committee members who have a passion to make a difference and together we made a lasting impact, to be bigger than cancer, which was truly incredible.”
Hundreds of luminary bags circled the track and included the names of loved ones for whom students were relaying. The light cast from the bags lit up the night sky.
“May we continue to remember those who have gone before us and may we, through our collective efforts, find hope for those who continue to struggle, so that one day we will find a cure for cancer,” said Trevor Klein, one of the staff advisors from Bishop Macdonell.
