A fundraiser is being held next month in memory of a Centre Wellington District High School student.
On Feb. 24, “Reach for Rainbows and Stars – A Zumba Fundraiser” will raise money in support of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) in memory of Aleksa McWhirter. She was diagnosed with a pediatric brain tumor in September 2015, the day she was supposed to start high school.
Along with her family and friends, McWhirter decided she was going to raise money for pediatric brain tumor research, selling T-shirts with “Rosie the Riveter” and the saying “Fight like a Sassy girl,” which was McWhirter’s nickname.
McWhirter and her family, friends and former teachers held a “Zumba for Aleksa” night in January 2016, fundraising through a community Zumba class.
In March of that year the McWhirter family donated $10,306 raised with the help the Centre Wellington community to Dr. Sheila Singh’s lab at the McMaster University Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute in Hamilton.
In June 2016, after undergoing chemotherapy, radiation and homeopathic and steroid treatments, McWhirter passed away at home from the disease.
This year’s “Reach for Rainbows and Stars – A Zumba Fundraiser” event will be held in her honour, with all proceeds once again going to Dr. Singh’s lab at McMaster Children’s Hospital.
Nerine Christie will lead the Zumba class on Feb. 24 from 7 to 8pm at the Center Wellington Community Sportsplex in Fergus.
Tickets are $10 and available at Pet Value in Fergus, The Plumber’s Wife in Arthur, at the door or by contacting MJ McWhirter at 519-216-8335 or mjmcwhirter775@gmail.com.
