The 2015 graduating class of Ecole Secondaire Notre Dame students have set their sights on a $65,000 fundraising goal for Cystic Fibrosis Canada as part of their graduation service project.
The funds raised will support the children and young adults who are living with cystic fibrosis (CF). The daily regimen of those living with CF includes specialized exercises, medications, diets and time spent with specialized medical equipment.
While extensive research over the last 50 years has increased life expectancies of those suffering from CF they are still living with a great deal of reduced abilities and reduced life expectancies.
The genetic disorder mainly affects the lungs of individuals and can cause long-term issues with breathing and lead to frequent lung infections with other symptoms including sinus infections, clubbing of the finger and toes, poor growth and weight gain, as well as poor absorption of nutrients through the gastrointestinal tract, as well as increased metabolic demand due to chronic illness.
The grad students of Notre Dame stated through their fundraising they hope to help those living with CF to breathe by raising money for research and support and thus named their fundraising campaign, ‘Breathe’.
The students are involved in a number of activities to reach their goal, including a Food Truck Wars competition last Friday, which saw the Food Studies 30 class competing to raise the most funds via their food truck concepts.
Students developed six different food truck ideas including unique dishes such as poutine pizza, fusion tacos, gourmet grilled cheese, chili cheese dogs, spicy sirirachi beef burgers and deep fried Oreos.
“We are engaging our future community leaders in making a difference in our community,” said Foods teacher Jeff Lerouge.
Aside from the Food Truck Wars, students will compete in a number of events through to March 21st. Each day teams of six students and their team teacher will compete in ‘Breathe’ related challenges and earn points.
Each team must have raised a minimum of $2,500 to be able to participate in the challenges, with the final day of the challenges asking a parent from each team to join them in full day of extreme challenges with 100% of the funds raised going directly to Cystic Fibrosis Canada.
The 2015 graduating class of Ecole Secondaire Notre Dame service project follows that of many before it, with the project having come to be known as a Notre Dame tradition.
For more information or to help the students reach their goals, contact Shannon Nivens at 403-342-4800 ext. 263394.
jswan@reddeerexpress.com
