KELOWNA — As hundreds of grade 12 students at Kelowna Secondary School (KSS) prepare for prom this Friday, they’re also taking time to remember Connor Cochrane, a former KSS student who lost his battle with cancer just weeks before his graduation.
“Connor Cochrane was one of those great people, great student. His classmates, when they found out he was sick, they started this [event],” said leadership teacher at KSS, Tony Sodaro.
That was back in 2001, and since then, cancer week at KSS has grown into a series of creative fundraising events including a head shave, a golf tournament and a drive through breakfast.
A school-wide assembly was held on Tuesday to kick off KSS cancer week, in attendance was Connor Cochrane’s brother.
“Time heals some of those wounds. There’s still some grief there forsure but it’s pretty uplifting as well to see these sorts of things going on,” said Chris Cochrane.
The entire initiative is student-led.
“These students that are giving everything from their time, energy to emptying their pockets for cancer, it’s inspiring,” said Sodaro.
According to the B.C. Cancer Foundation, since the initiative started about 15 years ago, KSS students have raised close to half a million dollars.
“The money from this project is going straight to the Kelowna cancer agency,” said B.C. Cancer Agency research intern Breanne Cadham.
Both the agency receiving the money and Connor’s family said they’re blown away by the students’ ongoing support.
“These students were just in diapers when my brother was in school and they’re carrying this forward and really doing a wonderful job,” said Cochrane.
This year the students at KSS are hoping to beat their cancer week fundraising record from 2008 when they managed to collect $78,000 for the B.C. Cancer Foundation.
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