B.C. Children’s Hospital benefits from Okanagan school fundraiser

KELOWNA – There was a buzz at a Kelowna middle school on Friday – the kind made by electric razors. More than two dozen students at Dr. Knox Middle School had either their heads shaved or long locks cut, so that wigs could be made for cancer patients.

It’s part of the annual bald falcon (don’t understand this) event that helps raise awareness and money for B.C. Children’s Hospital. It was started by a teacher, who years ago, had a child receive cardiac care at the hospital. The school has put on the event for the past 10 years. In that time, it has raised more than $400,000 for pediatric care. The fundraiser started out small, but has grown significantly in the past decade.

“I think it’s truly the idea of kids helping kids,” says event founder David Lafontaine. “I mean, our kids are much more cognizant than we were as young people of helping out and the fact that social justice and causes are so important to young people. It resonates because every year we have someone who has been at the hospital, every year.”

Kenny Clarke was one of the students who had his head shaved. The grade eight student did it to honour his big brother Logan, a former Dr. Knox student who is currently fighting cancer.

“It’s to support not just my brother, but every other kid with cancer,” says Kenny.

Sixteen year-old Logan was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in October and has since received seven rounds of chemotherapy. Logan is touched by his younger brother’s gesture.

“It means a lot to me that he would shave his head for a good cause, a great cause you know,” says Logan.

Logan is now waiting for more tests to determine if he needs radiation. He’s spent a significant amount of time at B.C. Children’s Hospital and is grateful to his former school for raising money for the facility and the sick children who depend on it.

“Probably the toughest part is seeing a lot of the kids struggling and to me they are my heroes and kids who raised money today,” says Logan.

All the money raised from the fundraiser goes towards the Miracle Telethon that benefits the hospital. The annual telethon airs on Global and takes place at the end of May. As for how much was raised during this year’s fundraiser, the big reveal will happen during the telethon.