Inspired students raise funds for St. Joseph’s new Breast Care Centre
Jan. 09, 2012
The loss of a beloved teacher inspired two Medway High School students to take a leadership class project to a whole new level - raising more than $2,500 for St. Joseph’s new Breast Care Centre. Today, Shelby Mackenzie and Chelsea Read, along with their leadership class teacher Rebecca McDonald, toured St. Joseph’s (developing) new Breast Care Centre and presented a cheque to the breast care team.
Originally the grade 11 leadership class students were asked to find a school or community endeavor that would showcase their own leadership ability. For the Mackenzie and Read this meant participating in a breast cancer awareness run.
However, following the death of a beloved teacher, Mrs. Leslie Petter, they were inspired to do more.
The girls wanted to do something that would honour her memory, as well as bring the Medway “family” together. “We wanted to do something local, so we knew exactly where they money was going,” states Mackenzie. They heard about St. Joseph’s Breast Care Centre from another teacher at the school, who had accessed its services herself.
Mackenzie and Read organized a “Pink Ribbon Day” and went from class to class sharing pertinent information about breast care while distributing the 1,200 pink ribbons they crafted (with the help of their 25 classmates). That day alone, they collected $584 in donations.
But, it didn’t stop there as the girls went on to sell breast cancer mittens. Originally ordering 150 pairs, they ended up selling more than 620 to classmates, teachers and a local primary school.
“We never dreamed of doing something to this scale,” says Read. “We never thought it was possible”.
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For more information contact:
Jennifer Parraga
Manager, Communications and Donor Relations
St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation
519 646-6085, ext. 64590
jennifer.parraga@sjhc.london.on.ca
