Only a few weeks into the school year and Ponoka Elementary School (PES) students were busy collecting money for the Terry Fox Run.
The school hosted its 13th year of fundraising for the Terry Fox Foundation and PES students and teachers were out Sept. 20 running a 1.6-kilometre track in honour of Fox.
The school is no lightweight; at the assembly $16,437.14 was raised with online pledges still needing to be tallied, explained physical education teacher Sandy Webber. She feels this fundraiser has other benefits for students. “Our school does it because it’s a strong character trait for our students.”
During the school assembly vice-principal Nicole Rawlinson told students about Terry Fox and his life. “He was one person and one idea.”
Despite being young and small, PES students’ teamwork can still make a difference with their endeavours, she explained. “You too are heroes because of the work you’ve done.”
With the help of teachers, students set their own goal of how many times they could walk/run the route.
“We call it a smart goal, it’s specific, it’s measurable,” said Webber.
Teachers and parents walked alongside students during the two hours of the run.
After 13 years PES has raised $276, 800 for the Terry Fox Foundation, and this year the school’s focus was teamwork, explained Rawlinson.
Student activity leaders helped organize the event and they were pleased to see people enjoying the run.
Brooklyn Nicholson, Grade 5, hoped funds from the school would help find a cure for cancer. “I like to help with the school and Mrs. Webber. I hope that all the cancer gets cured soon.”
Camille Brookwell, Grade 5, enjoyed decorating the gym for the assembly as well as helping to organize. Her hope is “to see everyone have fun.”
Jordan Crawford, who ran many laps with his father, Ryan, enjoyed helping out. He was a school announcer during the last few weeks and help seated people. His hope was to “raise lots of money for cancer research.”
The Town of Ponoka also donated three free swims to PES for the class that raised the most money in kindergarten and grades 1, 2 and 3, and grades 4 and 5.