Arborg and surrounding communities rallied to the cancer cause this month, helping the Arborg Terry Fox Committee and Arborg Early Middle School raise over $24,000 for the Terry Fox Foundation.
Donna Gislason, chair of the Arborg & District Terry Fox Committee, said there’s a generous community spirit in the area and support for those with cancer. Although the committee didn’t hold a run this year, it organised a fundraising barbecue, took donations, held a raffle and sold T-shirt on two weekends earlier this month.
“Our fundraiser went very well. We raised over $12,500 for the Terry Fox Foundation through the raffle we held, T-shirt sales and the barbecue,” said Gislason. “I can’t believe how generous our community has been. It’s not only people in the town of Arborg, but also people in the surrounding areas.”
The committee collected funds for the Terry Fox Foundation outside the Interlake Co-op grocery store on Sept. 15 and also accepted donations at the Interlake Outdoors Show on Sept. 9. It raffled off two Adirondack chairs that Gislason and her husband made.
Last year Arborg and surrounding communities raised over $9,600 for cancer research.
The committee got quite a boost in fundraising support this year from the town’s early middle school students and staff.
Arborg Early Middle teacher Cheryl Chwaliboga said that when she heard there’d be no formal run this year, she asked school staff if the students could undertake a run and collect pledges rather than offering a “Toonie or Loonie for Terry” as they usually would. All staff were on board as was principal Brad Harding.
“I also asked Mr. Harding, our principal, if he would be willing to shave his head if we raised $5,000 and he said that was not enough! It was agreed upon that $7,000 would have to be raised in order for him to shave his head,” said Chwaliboga.
To kick of the fundraising initiative, the school held an assembly a week before the run. One of the staff members, Mrs. Lorna Plett, spoke with staff and students about her personal journey with cancer, said Chwaliboga.
“She shared a very touching story of her experiences and the importance of raising money for cancer research,” she said. “We also announced the challenge of raising $7,000 to have Mr. Harding’s head shaved. The kids were pumped!”
On the day of the run, students had already met their fundraising goal and the principal was destined for a close shave.
“Our final total ended up being just under $12,000,” said Chwaliboga. “Staff members who have been personally affected by cancer were invited to come and do the honour of shaving their principal’s head. This included Lorna Plett, Tracy Froese, Iris Stansell, and Tanya Harding.”
The school is “so proud” of its students and their hard work to get pledges. And it appreciates the community’s support to reach their goal, she added.
“Our school’s Parent Advisory Council donated all of the profits to this month’s Hot Dog Day to our fundraising. As well, the Watering Whole donated water for our water station and the Co-op Gas Bar donated cups for us to use,” said Chwaliboga. “We are also thankful to the fire department for keeping our kids safe on the roads as they led and followed behind us, for our run.”
Arborg mayor Peter Dueck said he’s was proud of the students’ efforts to raise money for the cancer cause and demonstrate good citizenship.
“Congratulations to the school for exceeding their fundraising goal,” said Dueck. “I was told they raised well over their goal of $7,000.”
Express photos by Lana Meier
