Year 12 students at St Mary MacKillop College raised a massive $58,000 in the recent Relay for Life for the Cancer Council ACT, the school boasting not only the biggest group tally in the national capital, but also the highest individual fundraiser.
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One of the year 12 students, Jade Camilleri, raised the highest individual amount in the ACT - $2282.
The 17-year-old said she was motivated by the passing of her beloved grandmother as a result of cancer in 2018.
She and her fellow year 12 students at MacKillop also wanted to smash the previous fundraising record of $28,000 set by the class of 2019.
"Everyone just got on board and donated and really wanted to make a difference in the cancer community," Jade said.
MacKillop year 12 students fundraise every year for the Relay for Life, where teams do laps of an athletics track for 24 hours, with all money raised going to the Cancer Council's research, support and prevention programs.
The event this year was not held at its usual location at the AIS, due to Covid restrictions, and also had to be curtailed.
Instead, teams of MacKillop students walked laps of the oval at the Wanniassa campus from 7am to 7pm on a Saturday in March. Two students, Sam Robinson and James Menham, completed 200 laps of the oval together. Several students covered the distance of a marathon.
Their efforts were recognised this week when representatives of MacKillop were invited to Government House to help with the launch of the Cancer Council's next major fundraising event, Australia's Biggest Morning Tea, which is being staged this month and next.
Jade and the ACT's second-highest fundraiser, Ava Rezo-Kolak, with the MacKillop school captains Lilly Vassallo and Zachary Cuningham, met with Governor-General David Hurley who congratulated them on their incredible work.
"He told us we did a really good job," Jade said.
Meanwhile, anyone wanting host a Biggest Morning Tea is being encouraged to do it their way - whether it's at home with friends or family, a simple morning tea in the office, virtually or at a gathering in a local community or school.
To register or donate, go to biggestmorningtea.com.au or call 1300 656 585.
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Megan Doherty
I like telling local stories and celebrating Canberra. Email: megan.doherty@canberratimes.com.au
I like telling local stories and celebrating Canberra. Email: megan.doherty@canberratimes.com.au
