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Taylee Jackson is “Star Catcher” for Sick Kids’ Foundation

March 26, 2016   ·   0 Comments

Centre Dufferin District High School (CDDHS) student Taylee Jackson has a passion for supporting the Foundation for Sick Kids Hospital.

The Grade 11 student has been hosting fundraising events for the Foundation since 2012 and will host her fourth event, an Easter bake sale, in the foyer of CDDHS this Tuesday, March 29, from 11.35 a.m. to 12:30 pm.

In 2010, when Taylee was just 11 years old, her aunt was diagnosed with cancer.

Taylee wanted to help her aunt, so she sold cookies and raised $250 to help pay for some of her medical expenses.

Her aunt lost her battle to cancer in March of 2011 and it was then that Taylee realized she wanted to support cancer research.

She created Star Catchers Foundation to support Sick Kids Hospital, because, she says, “I know that they are very trusting with my donations and I know that 100 per cent of my funds raised are going to a good cause.”

In May of 2012, Taylee hosted her first fundraising event at Hyland Heights Public School’s “Spring Fling.” She ordered 1,200 wristbands that said “FIGHT CANCER” and had a banner made at McCarthy Signs with the charity name on it.

Within just two hours, Taylee and her friends raised over $400.

The following summer, Taylee sold wristbands at Harmony Whole Foods in Orangeville and she held her first Easter bake sale at CDDHS last year, followed by a Halloween bake sale in October.

“The community has given me a lot of support and I hope to be hosting events outside of the school in the future,” says the Melancthon-raised youth.

In 2015, Taylee was a guest speaker at “Be The Best You Can Be Day,” an inter-school youth event that was held at the Centre Dufferin Recreation Centre with hundreds of area students in attendance. Taylee was one of several impressive guests who shared her enthusiasm for their cause and served as role models for the students.

“What inspires me most is my aunt and the people I hear about that are diagnosed with cancer,” says Taylee. “I empathize for the cancer patients as well as the family and friends of someone battling cancer because I am aware of what the situation can be like. This gives me motivation to keep fundraising and helping others to the best of my ability.

“In the future, once I turn 18, I hope to make Star Catchers Foundation a registered non-profit organization so that it can continue on, become bigger and be well-known.”

At her upcoming Easter bake sale at CDDHS, Taylee will once again sell “FIGHT CANCER” wristbands. She and her friends are hoping to raise $300 in one lunch period from 11:35a.m.to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday. 100% of the proceeds will go to Sick Kids Hospital to be used at the cancer research facility.

Taylee’s Facebook page for Star Catchers and wristbands is facebook.com/Star-Catchers-Foundation-210240522409757.

By Marni Walsh

         

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