RRHS students raise $4,600 for famine relief

Ken Johnston
Editor

In an effort to reduce hunger around the world, 50 Rainy River High School students raised $4,600 Friday and Saturday.
Participating in the annual World Vision 30-hour famine, the students began their fast at 2 a.m. Friday and didn’t eat until 8 a.m. Saturday.
Organizer Marvin MacDonald, said,”We aren’t too strict on the eating bit, but we do encourage them not to eat.”
However, the students were allowed to drink anything they wanted, but caffeinated drinks are not recommended . For the most part the students don’t eat for the 30 hours.
On Friday they had school to fill their time. After school a lengthy regimen of
activities was planned. Four teams were picked and they all competed in events such as floor hockey, volleyball, dodgeball and earthball. For fun, the students also watched movies, played cards and actually were allowed to sleep while in the school. They rolled out the athletic mats in the gymnasium and slept there.
In the morning they celebrated their fundraising efforts with a feast. Last year, they went to a local restaurant for breakfast. This year, they ordered in every teen’s favourite – pizza!
While the amount raised this year is about $100 lower than last year, organizers were still impressed. “Kids so often get a bad rap. It is very thrilling to see them doing something positive,” said MacDonald.
The top three fundraisers were Henning Peterson at $395, Dillan Seymour at $274.50 and Eleanor Wiersema at $180. 80 percent of the money raised will go directly to famine relief in Third World countries. The other 20 percent will go to cover the costs of administering the relief.
MacDonald, along with wife Ursula, teacher’s aides Michelle Tymkin and Eleanor Wiersema participated in the famine and acted as chaperones for the event.