Calgary students duct tape teachers in support of friend with cancer

CALGARY – Junior high students at Calgary’s St. Helena Jr. High School got a rare opportunity today to duct tape their science teachers to a wall.

The sticky fun just one of a number of activities organized by two grade nine students in order to raise money for Kids Cancer Care in support of classmate, Alec Remenda.

“We wanted to let him know that he’s supported and not alone and that we all love him and care for him,” said Priscilla Ksenic, one of the student organizers.

Remenda was diagnosed two years ago with rhabdomyosarcoma, a common soft-tissue cancer that occurs in children.

“Alec was in our homeroom in grade seven and we got really close to him,” said Madison Pierce.  “At the end of the year, he wasn’t showing up to school and they weren’t really telling us why.”

Remenda ended up having to miss his entire grade eight year and has also missed most of grade nine.  Pierce says when his friends found out what he was dealing with, they knew they wanted to help.

“We felt like the school should do something for him.”

Remenda is now back at school and took part in Monday’s activities.  He said having the support of his entire school means a lot.

“It’s pretty crazy to think that almost 400 kids are right with me.  It’s amazing!”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's pretty crazy to think that almost 400 kids are right with me.  It's amazing!"

Pierce and Ksenic had hoped the day’s activities would raise $4000.00 for the local cancer charity but by Monday afternoon, the school had contributed over $5700.