A local girl is setting out to raise money throughout the month of November and then shave her head in early December in honour of young cancer victims.
Rowan Jacques, a Grade 2 student at École John Wilson Elementary School, will be accepting donations for “Shave Your Lid for a Kid” in support of the Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta. Jacques’ goal is to raise $2,500.
At the school’s monthly assembly on Oct. 27, JWES Principal Jackie Taylor said she was honoured to stand beside Jacques.
“Rowan has a very special heart,” Taylor told the assembled staff, students and parents. “Mom and Rowan visited with me last week, and I thought this was a fabulous event, and that we could rally around Rowan.”
Jacques said she got the idea to raise money for kids with cancer when her mom got a phone call from their neighbour years ago. The neighbour’s grandmother had been diagnosed with breast cancer.
“My mom really wanted to shave her head so the grandma wouldn’t feel so self-conscious,” Jacques recalled, saying the sight of her mom and her neighbour shaving their heads inspired her to do it herself. “I’m really proud of myself for doing it.”
Taylor said the school is sending a letter home today to remind the JWES school community how they can get involved. The letter also encourages students and adults to join Jacques on Dec. 2 to have their heads shaved.
Classes have also been encouraged to fundraise in their own, unique ways.
Residents can also pledge Jacques online by going to http://secure.csfm.com/kidscancer/shave/home/index.php, and then clicking on the “pledge a shavee” button. Jacques is registered under École John Wilson Elementary School.
For more information, contact the school at (403) 227-3292.
