After their successful fundraising Fun Run last month, officials with Road to Hope — a local organization that helps cancer patients with trips to their treatment locations — are still receiving all sorts of help in sponsoring these trips.
On Wednesday, a group of tenth graders from J. A. Williams High School presented a cheque for $600 to Alice Thompson, who is the treasurer with Road to Hope. The funds were raised by the students throughout last week as they worked the school's popcorn, cotton candy and snow cone machines and sold them to other students.
The fundraiser was a result of a Workplace Readiness Class, which is part of the school's 'Knowledge Employability' program, says Wade Coutney, a teacher at the high school who facilitates the program.
"They (students) learn some job skills, and that is kind of our goal with the Employability Program... Basically teachers mark skills, how to show up on time, how to work under stress, how to work with other people in a team concept... Through this program, kids graduate with a certificate. Essentially, students need to have the skills once they graduate to get a job... One of the things was fundraising and building their resumes, and today they have added to their resumes that they fundraised for Road to Hope," Coutney said.
Both Coutney and Thompson applauded the students for their hard work, while explaining how they are helping those in need with their generous donation.
"All of your hard work is basically right here (referring to the cheque). So, good on you guys," said Coutney to the group of students while Thompson added, "This money will come in really handy. We have had a huge increase in people who have cancer in our area who make trips back and forth. Most of them go to the Cross Cancer Clinic in Edmonton. So, that's a huge trip. Even though our volunteers drive them, we still reimburse them to help pay for a little bit of the gas and any up-keep on their tires. So, this will end up bringing almost two rides, and that is wonderful. Two people will be able to go to their cancer appointments in Edmonton."
While speaking with the POST, Thompson said the community support for Road to Hope is invaluable. Seeing it coming from students is heart-warming, she said.
"I am overwhelmed by their generosity. Without donations such as this, we couldn't continue doing what we do, so we really are very thankful," said Thompson.
