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"WEEKEND STAR" FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2001 - 15 CHRIS HALUWEEKEND STAR Jillian Watson offers up for sale one of the freezies Grade 5 students at R.H. Cornish Public School have been selling as part of their fundraising effort to help: dig wells in Africa. Kids' fundraiser aids African well fund By Chris Hall Weekend Star A fundraising effort undertaken by students in Port Perry will help pro- vide clean, safe water in African communities. Grade 5 students at R.H. Commish Public School have engaged in a fundraising effort that will see all proceeds go towards digging wells in Uganda. The international pro- ject, dubbed Ryan's Well, was first brought to the attention of the local stu- dents by Grade 5 teacher Rob Ferguson. After reading about young Ryan, a 12-year-old who has taken it upon him- self to help raise funds for needy causes across the globe, Mr. Ferguson made a presentation to his stu- dents earlier this year. The Veteran teacher used a copy of a CBC Radio interview with Ryan to inspire his students, who quickly. took up the challenge. "I read = something about him in the January Reader's Digest issue, and heard him again on CBC Radio," recalled Mr Ferguson. "So | got a tape and they listened to it in class, and initially they thought it was neat and wanted to help out. "Wanting to raise money to help make sure there's fresh water for everyone in Africa is a pretty lofty and hon- ourable goal." A few ideas were tossed around, and it was finally decided that the two Grade 5 classes - each taught by Mr. Ferguson and Wendy Strickert - would sell freezies during lunch hour to raise funds. "First we started selling cookies for 50 cents to raise money for the freez- er; we did that in February, and raised about $200," said Chris Moon, one of the students who helped spearhead the initiative. With a little financial help from the: school, the students purchased their freezer. Following that, the stu- dents began selling freezies out their class- room windows during the lunch hour beginning in May, again charging 50 cents. Since then, the Grade 5 classes have raised close to $2,000, all of which will be sent to the Ryan's Well project Bani HARDWOOD & LAMINATE FLOORING -ATROY. i LEVOLOR' ®'SHADE-O-MATIC' 1918 SCUGOG ST. PORT PERRY (905) 985-2451 CANADIAN 4 at the Port Perry Canadian Tire * All boaters must become certified under new legislation * Purchase a Study Manual at the Port Perry Canadian Tire Store and then write the test for your Pleasure Craft Operators Card willing, TUS & Fri-, June 2829, 20071 \ CANADIAN / TIRE 7