Two elementary school students in Nanaimo are determined to try to help following a family member’s leukemia diagnosis.
Bailey Paauwe and Ella McPherson, Grade 4 students at Pleasant Valley Elementary School, are raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada after Paauwe’s stepfather was diagnosed last month with leukemia, a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow.
Paauwe and McPherson created a slideshow to present to their class and let their peers know about the online fundraiser.
“We just told them what we were doing and why we were doing it,” McPherson said.
The GoFundMe was started Thursday, Dec. 9, and by this morning, Dec. 10, it had already more than doubled its goal of $2,500.
“It makes me happy that people really care,” said Paauwe.
The girls now want to extend their efforts further, and plan to keep the fundraiser active for one more week to try to exceed the $10,000 mark.
“We’re just going to try and see if we can make a little bit more, just to help a bit more,” McPherson said.
Paauwe plans to shave her head to show support for her stepdad and to help with wig-making, and McPherson will also cut her hair to help. The girls’ slideshow notes that donating to the society can be a “Christmas gift” to individuals and families dealing with blood cancer. They add that donating blood is another way to support the cause.
To view the online fundraiser, visit http://www.gofundme.com/f/bailey-ellas-fundraiser-for-leukemia-research.
editor@nanaimobulletin.com
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