Elementary school holds fundraiser for volunteer cancer drivers
A simple cupcake sale by Grade 1 students at English Bluff Elementary turned into a school-wide effort to spread some love and support to a local organization.
The acts of kindness and fundraising started after teacher MaryAnn Scarr read an article in the Optimist about the Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society.
“I wasn’t even aware of the (Volunteer Cancer) Drivers Society until I read your article,” Scarr recalled. “I’m always looking for ways that we can teach our young children to be better citizens, so I brought the article into the class and we started brainstorming ways that we could help.”
As she joked with her students that they couldn’t help as drivers because they were not old enough yet, the students thought a cupcake sale would be a good way to raise money.
The baking began and in the end $258 was raised.
But Scarr and her students were not done. They came up with the Spreading Smiles campaign and got the whole school involved.
“I came up with a template and every student one day drew a picture on the yellow paper. It looks like a little scroll tied with yellow ribbon because yellow is the cancer colour,” she said. “The idea is the society can hand these out to the patients they are driving with the hope that is spreads a smile and just let’s these folks know that we are thinking about them.”
Society president Garth Pinton said the support from the students is appreciated.
“We are so thrilled by your support behind this. Coordinating the children and parents to make and sell the cupcakes (is) a wonderful idea,” Pinton said.
ABOUT THE VANCOUVER CANCER DRIVERS SOCIETY
The Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society was established in 2015 following the unexpected cancellation of a similar program offered by the Canadian Cancer Society.
The society serves Delta, Surrey, Langley, Abbotsford, Maple Ridge, Mission, the Tri-Cities, New Westminster and North and West Vancouver. Volunteer drivers offer round trip transportation for patients in these areas for treatment at facilities across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley.
There are 29 drivers operating in the Delta/Surrey area that so far in the first five months of 2017 have made 947 patient trips.