(Pictured above: Benson Public School Vice-Principal Hedy Gutman (left) stands with UCDSB Acting Trustee Liaison Officer and cancer survivor Lisa Raymond. Raymond visited students in grades 3-6 to talk about kindness and living life to its fullest.)
(Cardinal) – Twenty years ago, a 17-year-old Lisa Raymond received a gold necklace as a gift from her grandmother. At the time, she didn’t realize the role that necklace would play in helping to save her life.
Yesterday, the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) Acting Trustee Liaison Officer visited a group of 40 grades 3-6 students at Benson Public School – a day before the Terry Fox National School Run Day – and told them about how her playing with that necklace led her to notice a lump on the side of her neck. As a previously healthy grade 11 student, Raymond was shocked to learn that the lump was Hodgkin’s disease, a cancer that affects the lymphatic system.
Raymond went on to describe her seven-month experience with chemotherapy, medication, tests, blood transfusion, hair loss, physical weakness and perseverance.
“Having a very positive outlook and support from family and friends helped me get strong and beat the disease,” she said. “Inspiration from people like Terry Fox helped me realize the importance of living life to the fullest.
“It’s important to be good to one another,” Raymond said. “Think positive. Be strong. Eat healthy and spend lots of time enjoying what you love. A hug or a smile always brightens someone’s day.”
Benson Vice-Principal Hedy Gutman said she invited Raymond to speak to students to not only make the Terry Fox Run seem more purposeful, but to remind them about the importance of kindness.
“I would like the students to recognize that their peers might be in need and that they should be a little kinder to each other,” she said. “You never know what someone’s going through.”
Today, elementary students from the across the UCDSB will be participating in the Terry Fox National School Run Day. According to the official event Web site www.terryfox.org, over $400 million has been raised globally for cancer research through Terry Fox Runs.
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For more information please call:
Lisa Raymond
Acting Trustee Liaison Officer
Upper Canada District School Board
613-342-0371 ext. 1279
Hedy Gutman
Vice-Principal
Benson Public School
613-657-3095
Posted September 28, 2009