October 24, 2017
CANCER DRIVE 22 KIDS CARING FOR KIDS: REMEMBERING LAURA COTESTA
Lockerby Cancer Drive Committee under Principal Craig Runciman
Co-chairs: Grade 12 LCS students Mia Jensen and Morgan Joly
Student Committee: Julie Bertrim, Sarah Bilgasem, Sammy Brown, Abhi Chinnsane, Autumn Dini, Zoe Fredette, Sydney Gardner, Rogan Gutwillinger, Jasmine Kord, Garett McCulloch, Sydnie Stinson, Mia Valliere
Teacher Representatives: Ms. S. Benton, Ms. D. MacLennan, Ms. P. DeSanti, and Ms. K Rodriguez
Key Dates:
Motivational Pep Rally: 12 October 2017
Cancer Drive: 26 October 2017
Thank You Assembly: 27 October 2017
thestudburystar.com 25 Oct. 2017
For Grade 12 Lockerby student, Sarah Bilgasem, cancer drive is personal. She understands the emotional and financial toll that cancer can exert on families. When she was ten, she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma – bone cancer. For eight months, she and her mother travelled weekly to Toronto for her treatments, away from the rest of her family, from school, from friends. She confesses that she was scared.
Now at Lockerby, she approves of the cancer drive experience: “it’s really heartwarming to see people, help [others] who are going through the same experience as me.” She “really wanted to be a part of the solution to keep families up here in the north and have our treatment here in our own cancer centre.”
CBC News. 26 Oct. 2017; CTV News. 26 Oct. 2017.
Activities and Fundraising Events:
Cancer Drive Carpool Video (part of the Motivational Assembly)
Bagging groceries at Food Basics
Silent Auction
Cancer Drive Sweater Sales
Buttons: “Fight Like a Viking”
At the Thank You Assembly, the Cancer Drive Committee announced the result of Lockerby’s fundraising efforts: $55,500. Their 22-year total now surpassed $900,000. All the funds collected have gone directly to the paediatric oncology unit at the Northeastern Cancer Centre. For Tannys Laughren, executive director of Northern Cancer Foundation, “It’s been 22 years of something special and that’s just awesome.”
She also thanked all involved:
LCS teachers and staff for their hard work
Vikings and their cancer committee “for organizing and managing this great event”
The Greater Sudbury community for once again supporting children all over Northeastern Ontario who come to the NECC for treatment”
Pina Cotesta, “for keeping Laura’s dream and memory close to her heart and close to ours”
Principal Craig Runciman thanked everyone who contributed to the success of this important initiative, especially the people of Sudbury who have continued to support Kids Caring for Kids for the past 22 years.