The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
I recently received an e-mail from a very good friend with great news. A community project we worked on together in high school has had continued success. Nine years ago, my friend Danielle Quinn and I put together Pink Day at our high school _ Kennebecasis Valley High School _ in Quispamsis, New Brunswick. We started the day off as a new way to fundraise for the 2004 Run for the Cure. We worked countless hours to get donations and sponsorships and to organize every last detail. We encouraged students, staff, and teachers to dress in pink and make a $1 donation to our Pink Day fund. We had great support through the school and were able to hold our own mini Run for the Cure on the school's football field. Call it bribery if you choose, but those who dressed in pink were able to skip the last period of the day and participate in the mini event. Danielle and I hoped to see a few dozen people wearing an old pink t-shirt or some socks. We really didn't know what to expect. We knew our school had great school spirit, but no one could have prepared us for the turnout. We were shocked when we opened the doors and people dressed in pink just kept coming, and coming. We were able to raise over $14,000 through our Pink Day as well as the school's fundraising team for the Run for the Cure. Pink Day was such a success that KVHS has continued the tradition. Nine years later, the school has raised over $100,000 for breast cancer research. The e-mail that I mentioned earlier came from Danielle letting me know that the current leadership team wanted us to talk to the school. They wanted us to share how the day got started. Since Flin Flon is so far from Quispamsis _ 3,971 kilometres, to be exact _ I was unable to attend the school's assembly. Dressed in pink, Danielle went for the both of us. She then asked the students for a group picture to send to me so I could see the success for my own eyes. I was more than overwhelmed when a picture came through with my old high school gymnasium FILLED with pink! It came with instructions to pass along to my Gran _ a big push behind the origin of Pink Day. My Gran was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997. She was diagnosed with cancer 16 years ago _ not that you would know it. I've listened to stories of her recent back packing trip across Europe (yes, Europe, and yes, backpacking). She continues to amaze me. Because of the success of our Pink Day and the continued success at KVHS I like to think someone else's grandmother has wonderful stories to share. When I got the picture it took me a few moments to really register what I was looking at. There were so many positive things _ as well as memories _ all wrapped up into one picture. Then it hit me. This challenge doesn't have to stop in Quispamsis. Granted my high school is the size of the schools in the area combined, there is no reason this can't be redone. So, I'm putting out a challenge to the local students. I'm challenging you to come up with a new fundraiser or event and make it your own. The Run for the Cure is just around the corner, taking place this Sunday, Oct. 6 at Flinty's Boardwalk beginning at 1 p.m. Can you raise a few extra dollars to put towards the event?
