For Holy Name student, a life of community involvement starts early

Posted Feb 2, 2012 By Hollie Pratt-Campbell

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EMC News - A Grade 6 student from Holy Name School in Kingston Mills got a lot more than she bargained for while participating in her class' Take Action Project in December. The initiative encouraged children to think about what it means to be socially responsible by finding a way to raise money for a cause that truly resonates with them.

Anna Doyle was hoping to raise $100 for the Canadian Cancer Society from raffling off a Christmas tree donated by her family's tree farm, and went about selling tickets to her parents' co-workers and people in the school community.

"I chose (the Cancer Society) mainly because I have two friends that have had breast cancer," said Anna. "So I was thinking of something that I could raffle off and (my dad and I) had the idea of getting the Christmas tree."

Then, at a school advent mass held just prior to Christmas, Anna sold enough tickets to bring her total to $300. On Jan. 25, she presented the cheque to local Canadian Cancer Society Fundraising Coordinator Joan Gowsell at a ceremony held at Holy Name School.

Anna said it made her feel "really, really happy" to be able to make such an impact.

"I was jumping around and screaming (when I found out the amount)," she recalled. "It was really amazing."

"We're pretty proud of her," said mom Rhonda Evans. "It's great that she would do this and that she did it on her own."

Gowsell said that the $300 is extremely appreciated by the Cancer Society.

"For our geographical area...we're required to raise $1 million a year, and I'm the only fundraiser," she explained.

"We have our major events like the Relay for Life, but we rely heavily on community partners, and that's what this is...so little events like this may seem small, but they add up and they're so important."

The money will go to support all of the Cancer Society's services, such as research and assisting patients in getting to and from their appointments.

Anna's teacher, Dianne La Fortune, said that it's wonderful how children are able to realize the important roles they can play in their communities through the Take Action Project:

"Sometimes children identify a problem or a difficulty but don't know how to go about making a difference. So the whole goal is for them to read and write and make a difference at the same time with something that they're interested in."

La Fortune said that she is extremely proud of Anna, and all her students, for their efforts.

"Anna went beyond anything I expected," she said. "It certainly gives you hope and faith that there's a bright future ahead for all of us because at such a young age they're getting involved and making a difference in a way that some adults don't."

Indeed, Anna added that she plans on continuing her charitable efforts, and supporting a variety of other causes in the future such as the Multiple Scleorsis Society of Canada.

"I'm probably going to do another one within the year for something else," she said.




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