Nothing like a good cause to unite bitter rivals.
All Guelph and area high schools have joined forces to help raise money for the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada in the "ten 4 ten" campaign that officially kicked off Tuesday at John F. Ross CVI with a school-wide assembly.
"The barriers come down for all the kids," said Ross teacher and campaign organizer Mark Yanchus.
"They always see each other as 'the evil Celtics' or the 'Rough Ross Royals.' But they're all teenagers. They're all 14 to 18 and I think they know a little bit about philanthropy. This was a concerted effort, a challenge, to see if we could all do it together as one, under one banner," Yanchus said.
Money raised will all be calculated as one total, he said, and there is no competition between schools.
"One big fat thermometer for Guelph showing the total," he said.
Yanchus was the driving force behind the original ten 4 ten campaign just at Ross in 2006 in memory of his younger brother Scott, who died of cancer in 1996. The name ten 4 ten refers to the plan to raise $10,000 in 10 days in that campaign. They ended up raising just over $30,000.
This year the goal at Ross alone is $50,000 and Yanchus is optimistic that all the schools together could raise much more than that.
"It was the 10th anniversary of the first time we did it, when we raised over $30,000 in 10 days, I stewed and thought 'i've got friends at all the other schools, why don't we just put the word out?'" Yanchus said.
"It's been a decade. It was the right time."
Ross Grade 12 student Alicia Denoon, 18, has lived with a brain tumour most of her life. She is the student organizer of the event and at Tuesday's assembly gave an emotional presentation about what she and her family have gone through since her diagnosis.
Denoon received a standing ovation from the hundreds of students in attendance.
She said in an interview that bringing all the high schools together has been amazing.
"It hasn't been done ever before. It's a really big undertaking, but it will be really great that we can bring everyone together and do something great for a good cause," Denoon said. "It's encouraging. All the schools are going to do something in their own way."
Fundraising activities will take place both inside and outside the schools.
The campaign runs until April 9. On that night a fundraising gala at Ross, featuring lots of head shaving and pony tail cutting, will take place to help raise money.
The "Sound of Silence" event will also feature a silent auction.
For more information on ten 4 ten and what you or your school can do to get involved, contact [email protected].
