Children reach out to help the community

Here and Now column by Dan Hilborn
Published May 8, 2004


They may be young, but they sure know how to support a good cause.

Alisha, Brendin and Laura Parker, aged 11, nine and five years old respectively, raised $183 for research into Parkinson's disease last month, thanks to a little bit of help from Edmonds community school principal Sharon Domaas and a whole lot of hard work.

Over the past several months, the three children collected donations for gift baskets from the merchants at Lougheed Mall and Metropolis at Metrotown, and then sold raffle tickets to their classmates, friends and families.

The young Parkers undertook the ambitious campaign thanks largely to their school principal, who tries to instill upon students the importance of socially responsible behaviour, and their mom Faith.

They chose to support research into Parkinson's disease because their school's most famous graduate, Michael J. Fox, has the disease.

A GEOGRAPHY WHIZ

The big day is looming large for geography whiz Daniel Siracusa of Burnaby North secondary.

The local student will be among five British Columbians under the age of 16 competing for the national championship of the Great Canadian Geography Challenge, taking place on the Internet on May 15.

The top three finishers of the challenge will join the Canadian team that will participate in the National Geographic World Championship taking place next year in the United States.

Friends, neighbours and others can track Siracusa's progress in real-time as the competition takes place on the website www.geochallenge.ca starting at 9 a.m., local time, May 15.

In addition to watching the young man compete, the public can also answer their own questions taken from previous competitions and possibly even win a prize.

Other B.C. competitors at the Great Canadian Geography Challenge are Alfred Chen of Surrey, Nathan Friedman of Kamloops, Andrea Wong of Vancouver and Yoochan Yang of Surrey.

A HEFTY SCHOLARSHIP

Oscar Miklos of Burnaby is among four young people from across British Columbia to receive a $60,000 TD Canada Trust scholarship for community leadership.

Miklos won for his work to raise awareness of hydrogen fuel cells, an alternative energy source which one day could be used to provide power for personal automobiles, portable power stations and other uses.

A total of 20 such awards were handed out to young people from across the country during a ceremony in Toronto last weekend.

Since its inception nine years ago, the TD Canada Trust Scholarship has provided more than $10 million to well-deserving Canadian students.

"These young adults are a reminder of how one person can impact the lives of many," said Ed Clark, president and chief executive officer of the TD Bank Financial Group.

"With this scholarship, we recognize and reward their passion and commitment to improving the world around them."

More than 3,300 young people applied for the scholarships, which are among the most generous in the country.

SAFETY CHECK

Susan Borthwick of Burnaby has been appointed the new regional director of the Canadian Red Cross, Lower Mainland region.

Borthwick, a longtime volunteer with the disaster relief group, previously served as community development manager and acting regional director for the Red Cross.

Her accomplishments include supporting more than 1,500 volunteers and fostering relationships with local United Way offices.

"I am very excited to take on this challenging position," she said in a press release announcing her appointment.

"My goal as regional director is to build safe and healthy communities by facilitating the activities of a strong team of volunteers and staff in the Lower Mainland region."

A 30-year volunteer with the Red Cross, Borthwick's involvement with the not-for-profit humanitarian organization began in the water safety service.

DUKING IT UP

Victoria Chia of the 16th Burnaby Scout Group has earned one of the most prestigious youth achievement awards in the British Common- wealth.

Chia will receive the Duke of Edinburgh's Award silver-level certificate of achievement from B.C. Lt.-Gov. Iona Campagnolo during a ceremony at Government House in Victoria this weekend.

The award recognizes young people who undertake a variety of accomplishments in the community including community service, expeditions, demonstrating skills and fitness. Chia was assisted in her work by leader Frank Law.