PHS ranked 22 among numerous schools, with $2,300 raised in about a month and a half. On Sept. 19 the school organized a Terry Fox walk and then . . .

hosted a community barbecue as a way to raise funds. Usually, local businesses donate most of the items for the barbecue, but in 2021 Tara Fitzpatrick, grade 8, 9 and 11 math teacher, saw higher participation and she didn’t have to buy anything else. The hot dogs, buns, condiments, ice cream, ice cream cones, plates, ice and soda were all donated. People also volunteered to prepare the food.

“I had everything donated this year. Normally I have to buy chocolate bars, or something. This year I had everything donated in 25 minutes. It was insane. Everyone was so willing to give and just to get back to see some sort of normalcy,” said Fitzpatrick.

The walk usually starts in the morning. The trail is about a 10k walk with about on average 300 students participating. Neighbours offer up their homes as water stations for kids to replenish, and on their way back they stop for the barbecue.

Fitzpatrick highlighted that every year they try to do something different during advisory. They invite different speakers, including cancer survivors. One year they invited Betty Fox, Terry Fox’s mother. She said it’s a great way to “pump students up.”

The cause means a lot to this community and the school, pointed out Fitzpatrick. John Petty and Rick Valin, retired teachers, were the ones that first started it here at PHS. There is also a banner at the high school that reads Terry has lived here for 40 years, “So the school has faithfully done the Terry Fox for 40 years straight,” she said.

For her students, she noticed that they were surprised when they heard the news because they were on that list with schools that were much bigger as well as some private schools. “Just to know that your efforts are out there and they’re actually making a difference. You know, it’s kind of nice,” said Fitzpatrick.

Because cancer touches many people’s lives, this fundraiser has been a strong and important community event here in the area. “John Petty and Rick Valin are like pillars in the community so it’s kind of nice to take the torch from them and keep the story alive.”

Fitzpatrick wanted to thank Principal Debra Stephens, the principal, the community and the students at PHS.

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