Stettler Elementary students raised a whopping $14,690 for this year’s Terry Fox Run, and were rewarded for their efforts in a thoroughly entertaining way.
“Every year we challenge the Stettler Elementary students to raise as much money as they can. They are often in the high teens for raising funds,” explained Principal Sharon Fischer. Over the years, staff have always agreed to do fun things if the kids reach their goal.
“This year, we decided that if the students raised $10,000, (Vice Principal) Mrs. Syson would have her hair dyed pink. For $15,000, (Vice Principal) Mr. Thibeau would get his legs shaved and at $20,000 they could cut my hair and it would go to Wigs for Kids,” she said.
“They raised $14,690 so (Vice Principal) Mr. Thibeau didn’t have to go through with the leg shaving, and I decided to lower my (level) to $14, 690!”
Several students who were the top fundraisers were lucky enough to have a turn at cutting portions of Fischer’s long hair off - all for a terrific cause of course.
“It will be about 12 inches,” she added with a smile. “It’s just hair - it grows back And it’s for a good cause!”
Fischer noted that Stettler Elementary consistently is amongst the top fundraisers for the annual Terry Fox Run, which supports cancer research.
Thibeau also noted how proud the school is all the students’ efforts towards such a successful fundraising event.
“As we’ve said, our school, over the past 25 years, has raised over $400,000 for cancer research during our Terry Fox Runs,” he said. “That’s something we should be very proud of,” he said, adding that some of today’s students had parents who would also have attended Stettler Elementary and taken part in the run years back.
“They would have helped raise money, too - so it’s kind of a cool family tradition,” he said.
Members of Terry Fox’s family have, as a result of these tremendous efforts, visited the school over the years as well.
The Run is held on the last Friday each September.
