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Mitchell Wilson, who suffered from muscular dystrophy, took his own life
last September after he was bullied by students at his Pickering
school. Students throughout Pickering raised more than $19,000 in his
memory for other children who suffer from muscular dystrophy.
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Pickering students amazed even themselves when they handed over a
cheque for more than $19,000 to help local kids suffering from muscular
dystrophy.
Their charity, I Am Who I Am, was
created only four months ago by a group of students at Pine Ridge
Secondary School in memory of Mitchell Wilson, an 11-year-old boy who
suffered from the disease and tragically took his own life last fall
after he was bullied.
The project has since been adopted by
all 19 schools in the Pickering public board, and sells t-shirts and
wristbands to promote acceptance in schools and raise money for cancer
research and muscular dystrophy.
The group’s original goal was to
raise $10,000 to buy one wheelchair. But after meeting with Muscular
Dystrophy organizations — and surpassing that goal in just one month —
the group realized they could make an even bigger difference.
Students handed over a cheque on
Friday for almost twice that — $19,341.48 — to Muscular Dystrophy
Canada, with funds going to seven local families with children suffering
from the disease.
“Everybody was happy to see that
within four months we’ve changed people’s perception of one another,”
said student leader and Pine Ridge Grade-12-student Cody Morrison. “And
we’ve raised a lot of money along the way that’s going to help a lot of
people.”
Their green “I Am Who I Am” t-shirts
have been donned by the likes of Defence Minister Peter MacKay, Premier
Dalton McGuinty — and one even made it to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. Morrison, 18, said their charity got a
nod at the provincial Legislature by MPP Joe Dickson, and at the House
of Commons by MP Chris Alexander.
“Once you accomplish something like that the feeling is pretty indescribable,” Morrison said. Pine Ridge Principal Debbie Johnson said everyone at the ceremony Friday was touched and emotions were high at the school.
Mitchell’s father, Craig Wilson, was
there to present a plaque to the association in memory of Mitchell on
behalf of the Pickering schools.
Mitchell took his own life in
September after he found out he would have to testify in court against a
fellow student who’d allegedly assaulted and robbed him while he was
out on his daily walk to maintain his mobility skills.
A verdict in the case is expected on Monday.
The Star
Published On Sun Mar 04 2012
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Please show your support at the Halton Region Walk for Muscular Dystrophy and meet your
local Ambassadors! Raise awareness of the Walk for
Muscular Dystrophy in their community on May 6th, 2012 at Coronation Park Oakville or contact Stephanie Fenyes, walkformusculardystrophy.on@muscle.ca
