October 26, 2016 

CANCER DRIVE 21 KIDS CARING FOR KIDS: REMEMBERING LAURA COTESTA 

Lockerby Cancer Drive Committee under Principal Craig Runciman

  • Co-chairs Grade 12 LCS students: Lauren-Ashleigh Beaudry and Sydnie Stinson

  • Student Committee: 12 LCS senior students 

  • Teacher Representatives: Ms. S. Benton, Ms. P. DeSanti, Ms. D. MacLennan, and Ms. K. Rodriguez

Key Dates:

  • Cancer Centre Tour: Early Fall

  • Motivational Pep Rally: 13 October 2016

  • Instructional Assembly: 26 October 2016

  • Cancer Drive: 26 October 2016

  • Thank You Assembly: 27 October 2016

 

Cancer Drive Vision Statement 

Our vision is to cultivate a culture of caring at Lockerby Composite School. This culture will encourage students and staff to work together to support the paediatric unit of the Northern Cancer Foundation. By working together, we can make a difference for children and their families living with cancer. Our goal is to engage our school and community in a collaborative effort that promotes compassion and citizenship.

 

Motivational Assembly Highlights:

  • 20th Cancer Drive Anniversary Video (MCTV)

  • Daniella Cotesta (sister of Laura Cotesta) described some of the ways that cancer drive funds have helped children with cancer in Sudbury:

    • Child-size equipment in five treatment rooms

    • Private waiting room, designed with bright colours, and filled with children’s toys

    • Library with cancer care resources

    • Tele-conference room for doctors to communicate with other specialists

    • Teams of dedicated professionals – nurses, social workers, and teachers who focus solely on the Paediatric area

“If you keep hoping and praying for sunshine, the sunshine is sure to come” - Laura Cotesta

 

Activity and Fundraising Events:

  • Grocery Bagging at Food Basics (Regent Street) Oct. 1 and 2. Sudburians generously shared their good wishes and cash donations with LCS Cancer Drive committee members who bagged groceries to raise awareness of the initiative. Close to $2,000 was collected!

  • Cancer Drive hoodies were a huge success, selling out in less than a week. Thank you to Darrell Gobbo of Kustom Klubhouse for his support!

  • Green Ribbon Campaign: Ms. Benton’s home room won the Green Ribbon Challenge. The prize? Students selected three teachers to “pie” for a good cause!

 

The Thank You Assembly was a time for recognizing the efforts of all the participating students, staff, and volunteers. With the support of Sudburians, the students had raised over $45,000, all for children and families with cancer here in Northeastern Ontario.

“It’s amazing that year after year these kids go out into the cold and collect funds on our behalf. . . We’re beyond happy with the Greater Sudbury community for all their generous support” Tannys Laughren, Executive Director of the Northern Cancer Foundation. (NorthEasthealthline.ca 27 Oct. 2016)

Final Words:

  • Sydnie Stinson - Sydnie emphasizes the importance of raising funds for children battling cancer in the north: “The $800,00 that we have raised [over 21 years] has gone toward the paediatrics centre here in Sudbury.”

  • Lauren-Ashleigh Beaudry - While Lauren never had the chance to meet Laura, she recognizes that [Laura’s] story continues to inspire students: “I think today she’d be very thrilled of all that we’ve been doing for her and the [cancer] drive.” (CBC News. 26 Oct. 2016)