“It’s not fair that he has to suffer.”
Grade 6 DeBeck elementary student Matthew Li was categoric when asked to explain why he and his 30 or so fellow Me to We Club members chose to help six-year-old Joshua Weekes.
Li and the club – made up of Grade 6 and 7 kids at the school near No. 4 and Francis roads – decided, as part of their “making a difference locally” mandate, to run a button campaign for fellow DeBeck student Joshua, who is fighting a rare form of leukemia.
“We thought it was a good thing to do, as Joshua needs our help and he’s so young,” added Grade 7 student Brandon Young.
On their own, the club members personally designed and made 200 buttons, each with inspirational phrases and well-wishes tailored for little Joshua, who urgently needs a bone marrow donor.
“The buttons were on display throughout the week and when they went on sale, people were lined up out the door to buy them,” said proud DeBeck principal Larry Hurst on Friday.
“We asked a minimum donation of $3, but there were donations over that. We’re at $650 and rising.”
By the end of lunchtime, the club had raised $1,212.35, which will go directly to support Joshua’s family.
“This is a huge burden on the family and we hope this helps, even in a small way,” said Hurst.
As well as doing the button drive for Joshua, DeBeck’s Me to We students have been running candy drives and toy drives for the food bank.
“Everyone has been so positive and everyone was smiling; the reaction has been way beyond the normal,” said Grade 6/7 teacher Karishma Poonawala, who helps runs the club.
“It’s been a great teaching tool, in so much as getting students to think about others and giving up their own time.
“This group is so conscientious though, totally not self-involved and there are going to be some great leaders among them I’m sure.”
DeBeck’s spring fair, on May 13 from 6 to 8:30 p.m., will also feature a “Jump for Josh” bouncy castle.
