Students aiming to make a difference in fight against cancer

By Tina Comeau

THE VANGUARD

NovaNewsNow.com

When four Grade 4 students from Meadowfields Community School attended a recent presentation put on by MADD, one message of the day really stuck with them – you’re never too young to make a difference.

For student Catherine Hubbard, it immediately made her think of her grandfather who has cancer. “Since my grandfather has cancer, we wanted to do something that would help him and maybe help a lot of other people that have cancer,” she says.

So on the bus ride back to their school from Wesleyan Church, where the Mothers Against Drunk Driving presentation had been held, the four friends – Hubbard, Sarah McLennaghan, Emily Arklie and Farah Hafazalla – talked more about how they could make a difference.

They decided to form a group, Kidz Against Cancer, to raise money to donate to a new cancer centre at the Yarmouth hospital. They have a big goal – to raise $3,000 – although they’re taking little steps to get there.

On June 5 they held a plant and seed sale in their school’s lobby. A couple of days later they were planning a yard sale, and they’ve put a collection jar in their classroom.

They girls are gleeful as they point out how the money is starting to add up – $28 here, $39 there.

Laura McLennaghan, Sarah’s mother, thinks the girls are displaying great initiative and caring for others. “I’m very proud of them. I think it’s inspirational to see young people take the role that they’re taking, it shows real leadership.”

The students give lots of thanks to their teacher Kevin Gobien who has assisted them in their efforts. But Gobien gives all of the credit to the girls. “I heard them talking about it on the bus and I just let them go with it. I didn’t add anything, I didn’t take anything away, and this is what they’ve done with it,” he says. “I’m just really proud of what they’re doing. It was all their idea and I think it shows a lot about their character.”

For their part, the students say they just really hope they can make a difference.

It’s hard to argue that they haven’t already.