Students across Chilliwack are learning the importance of water this month, as organizers gear up for the Run for Water in Abbotsford, May 28.
Peg Peters from Run for Water is presenting to students at several schools, right before they set out for their own “mini” events. At Mt. Slesse middle school, the day will also be a chance to honour the memory of Letisha Reimer, who was randomly attacked in her own Abbotsford school last fall.
Teacher Jeanie Calvert said the news sent a ripple of grief through the school community, as many of the students there either knew Reimer through sports, church, or friends. One of the Mt. Slesse’s feeder elementary schools is Greendale, a community that has connections to Abbotsford in many ways.
“You could hear it in the halls,” Calvert said. “Kids were just shocked that a random act of violence like that could happen. Almost every student in the school could connect with her and feel the loss.”
But prior to her death at age 13, Reimer had already developed a strong sense of community and service. She was passionate about helping others and the Run for Water was important to her. So, the students at Mt. Slesse will use their own mini run as a chance to keep her memory alive.
They will be wearing red and black to symbolize “Abby Strong,” a collective movement throughout Abbotsford schools to band together following the random attack at Abbotsford senior secondary on Nov. 1.
They will also learn how lucky most Canadians students are to have ready access to clean drinking water. Peg Peters will be bringing in water jugs like those carried by children in developing countries, sometimes for hours at a time. Students will have a chance to try to carry the water containers, a task many won’t be able to complete.
While the Run for Water in Abby is a fundraising event, this mini event at Mt. Slesse is focused on educating students about the need for clean water around the world.
“We have a website set up so that money can be sent in, but from our standpoint we wanted to build an understanding of why money needs to be raised,” Calvert said. “Most importantly we want to kids to be aware.”
The Mt. Slesse Middle Middle Run for Water is on April 25 at the school.
To donate, visit http://runforwater.kindful.com/water-for-dengali-2016/mount-slesse-middle-school.