Last Updated: Tuesday - 07/13/2010

Students rally to raise funds for Haiti

Catholic schools' social justice efforts included a variety of ventures including bake sales, Fitness-A-Thon

WCR PHOTO | RAMON GONZALEZ Cardinal Leger students Fareen Lalani, left, Marc Sellers and teacher Mark Harvanka practice for their Fitness-A-Thon to raise funds for Haiti.

Concern over the crisis in Haiti has Catholic schools performing all types of social justice activities to raise funds for the earthquake-stricken nation.

At least 20 schools in the Edmonton Catholic School Division have or are raising funds for Haiti.

Schools that have already completed fundraising activities include Louis St. Laurent Junior/Senior High School, which raised $2,500, St. Charles Elementary, which raised $1,950 and St. Hilda Junior High, which raised $1,300.

The Grade 7 pre-advanced placement class at Cardinal Leger School has planned a Fitness-A-Thon and a healthy foods bake sale for Feb. 12.

"When the world heard about Haiti's needs following the earthquake, we quickly realized that those are our brothers and sisters and being within a Catholic school setting, it was a call to action," says teacher Mark Harvanka, who teaches mathematics, religion and social studies to the class.

"Our district mandate is to think locally and act globally and this was an opportunity to do so."

The idea came right from the students themselves.

"What they decided upon was a theme called Healthy Help for Haiti (because) here at Cardinal Leger School we are very much a health and wellness school, where we have it as our priority."

The 25 students at the Grade 7 pre-advanced placement class plan to raise $1,000 through both the Fitness-A-Thon and the healthy foods bake sale. All funds will be donated to the Canadian Red Cross to assist ongoing relief efforts in Haiti.

WORK THOSE MUSCLES

The Fitness-A-Thon will be held during the morning in the school's fitness room, where students will be going on various fitness equipment, from weight machines for resistance training and cardio vascular equipment to increase the heart rate to elliptical machines, treadmills and stationary bikes.

"We are going to be there (in the fitness room) for a little over two hours. They will have to visit every station," Harvanka said.

The students want their efforts in the fitness room to mimic the physical efforts relief workers are putting towards helping earthquake survivors.

"We will be basically sweating and working hard, just like the people who are (working) in Haiti right now are doing," said student Marc Sellers, 12.

To raise funds, the students will go around asking for sponsorship towards the Fitness-A-Thon.

The healthy foods bake sale will take place during the lunch break and afternoon during their Valentine's dance. It will consist of food items such as cookies, blueberry muffins and banana bread.

EVERY PENNY COUNTS

"I think it's our duty as a Catholic school to do something like this," said Sellers, who plans to raise at least $70 in sponsorships for the Fitness-A-Thon. "Even if it is a small amount of money, it will help because if everybody gives a small amount, it becomes a large amount and we can make a huge difference."

Student Fareen Lalani, also 12, plans to raise $100 through sponsorships. Like Sellers, she plans to ask neighbours, friends and relatives to sponsor her for the Fitness-A-Thon.

"I'm getting involved in this because Haiti is part of God's big family and all the people in it are and I also think that if we were in their situation we would want help," Lalani said.

Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 -- Western Catholic Reporter