Jason Aginsky, a 16-year-old Grade 11 student at McMath secondary, is this year’s recipient of the Lamplight Award, sponsored by the Centre for Judaism of the Lower Fraser Valley.
The award honours a youth who has performed an outstanding act of community service.
Aginsky was the second-youngest participant in the BC Ride to Conquer Cancer in August 2016, when he rode the 250 kilometres from Surrey to Seattle over two days.
“He’d announced eight months earlier that it was a cause he was determined to support and no safety concerns raised by his worried mother could deter him,” said Mark Aginsky, Jason’s father.
Jason was motivated to do this ride after losing his grandmother, Shirley Kramer, to ovarian cancer in 2003, when he was just three years old.
He joined The Village Idiots, a group of riders in the Steveston area, and after raising close to $4,000 to support the BC Cancer Agency, powered through the race.
“We followed him on day one by car and he was utterly exhausted, on the brink of admitting he’d ‘bitten off more than he could chew’ by participating,” his father recalled.
“The winds were against the riders that day, and it was hard going. But when it comes to determination, Jason has it in spades, and he pushed through on day two, waiting hours at the last stop so he could cross the finish line with other members of the group who were well behind him.”
In total, this year’s participants in the BC Ride to Conquer Cancer raised $7.1 million for cancer research.
Jason will receive the Lamplighter Award on Thursday at the Semiahmoo Shopping Centre, at a ceremony attended by Rabbi Falik and Simie Schtroks, directors of the Centre for Judaism, White Rock Mayor Wayne Baldwin and representatives of the cities of Surrey, White Rock, Langley and Delta.
“Chanukah celebrates the victory of light over darkness and goodness over evil,” said Simie Schtroks.
“This is a most appropriate opportunity to motivate and inspire young people to make this world a brighter and better place. By filling the world with goodness and kindness, that light can dispel all sorts of darkness.”
