Students at D.P. Todd Secondary School had a once-in-a-lifetime chance to throw pies at their teachers, and show support for a fellow student.
On Tuesday (April 30) the students raised over $600 while taking part in a messy but inspirational fundraiser for fellow student Kyra Edgson, who is undergoing treatment in Vancouver for leukemia, a cancer of the blood cells.
Bryelle Gallagher, a grade nine student who has been close with Edgson since Kindergarten spent $50.
That bought her ten pies, and she aimed each one at her math teacher Colin Schulz.
“We always joke around with him and when I saw his name on the pie list I knew it was a perfect opportunity,” said Gallagher, who was in Schulz’s math class last semester, in a School District No. 57 news release.
“It was definitely worth the money,” Gallagher added with a grin. “I’ve always wanted to throw a pie at Mr. Schulz.”
Gallagher, who actually loved Schulz’s math class, has been in regular contact with Edgson via messaging app Snapchat, and she said to know that all the money collected in the pie-in-the-face fundraiser would be supporting her friend motivated her to get involved in a big way.
“That’s why I did contribute a lot because I knew it was going for a good cause and I think it’s good for the school that they fundraised for her.”
Schulz was the most popular target on the day as 19 pies were thrown in his face.
“I think it’s because I’m a math teacher,” he added. “The numbers work in my favour, or against me.”
One grade 10 student, Ben Ellenchuck, even volunteered to be a target and paid $5 to have people throw pies at him.
“Honestly, it was really great that I got to participate in it. I never thought that I’d get to be pied," said Ellenchuck. "But I thought, ‘You know what? Why not flip the switch a little, pay a little money out of my pocket and support a friend and have fun while doing so."
As for Edgson, she received a bone marrow transplant from sister Sydney, who is in Grade 10 at D.P. Todd, and is doing well.
“Kyra was very sick for a period of time but she’s actually doing much better and, last I heard, they’re expecting a 100 per cent recovery and she may be back in Prince George as early as the end of June,” said D.P. Todd teacher Tracy Connell, who helped initiate and organize the fundraiser, which was born on the heels of a similar event held recently at College Heights Secondary School.
“Originally, it was if everything went as well as could be it would be the end of September that they would be back in town so it’s pretty great.”
- Courtesy of School District No. 57.
