Kids launch Colour for Cancer campaign

They’re calling their $1,000 fundraising campaign Colour for Cancer, or as their hand gestures suggest, Colour “4” Cancer. Rik Jespersen photo

A group of Davis Bay Elementary students are using their heads—literally—to help fight cancer.

The Grade 4-7 students had their hair dyed or streaked pink, blue or purple as a way to help raise $1,000 for the BC Cancer Foundation. The students are calling their campaign “Colour for cancer.”

How would colouring their hair accomplish that?

“We’re campaigning door-to-door and this is our statement,” said student Ainsley Shields. “So people can say, ‘Oh my gosh, I like your hair. Why did you get it done?’ And then we explain and ask for a donation.”

The kids, all members of the school’s Leadership Club, bought the hair colouring themselves, and the staff at Creekside Salon & Spa in Davis Bay donated their time on May 20 to do the dye jobs.

The students dreamed up the whole thing, said Sechelt Community School Coordinator Ted Chisholm, who along with principal Glen Smith, provided some guidance for the project.

“They’ve been passionate about it,” Chisholm said. “Once the idea was brought up, I asked them who had family members who have had cancer. Out of 14 kids there that day, about 10 put their hands up.”

The students also worked together to compose the text for their fundraising page on the BC Cancer Foundation website, said Chisholm.

They have only until June 15 to reach their goal. If you would like to donate, go to http://donate.bccancerfoundation.com/goto/colourforcancer

Rik Jespersen