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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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 Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 5:14 pm Post subject: 10-year-old takes on both bullies and cancer |
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MODS: I know I shouldn't post an entire article, but the newspaper requires a subscription, and this story is really a good one...
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10-year-old takes on both bullies and cancer
Eel River Crossing student launches drive to raise funds for Tree of Hope campaign
By James Foster
Times & Transcript Staff
As published on page A3 on November 9, 2006
EEL RIVER CROSSING - Marc-Andr� LeBlanc couldn't take it any more.
When he saw students mercilessly teasing a little Grade 2 girl who had lost her hair because of her cancer treatments, he took action - several actions in fact, actions that belie his tender age of 10.
It was last November when the Grade 5 student at �cole Arthur-Pinet witnessed the little cancer victim being razzed by her young peers. It got so bad that the girl refused to go to school.
"They were insulting her," Marc-Andr� recalled yesterday.
Marc-Andr� rushed to her defence, warning his schoolmates they'd better smarten up - or else. Then he got an even better idea. He would shave his head in solidarity with the girl.
He spoke to teachers and his principal about his idea and they in turn offered their support.
"I told my mom about it and she said it was OK, I could go ahead and shave my head."
And so he did.
"It felt different, but it felt OK though. It didn't bother me much."
The deed was done in front of the whole school so Marc-Andr� could collect donations for the annual Tree of Hope campaign, the Dr. Georges-L. Dumont Hospital Foundation's effort to raise money for cancer research. This year's goal is to raise $1.2 million.
He also took the opportunity to lecture his students on the ravages of cancer.
Suddenly, the little girl's tormentors turned into her defenders.
Everyone pitched in to donate. And then word of Marc-Andr�'s deed spread through the area.
Unsolicited donations started pouring in from individuals, as well as from organizations like the Knights of Columbus and even from some municipal councils.
In the end, the 10-year-old amassed $1,310 towards the fight against cancer.
He shrugs nonchalantly when asked what could have prompted someone so young to be so selfless. It's mostly because he wants others to be treated in the same manner he would wish to be treated, he said.
Marc-Andr� is one of this year's Tree of Hope Treekeepers, as someone who made a big difference in the lives of cancer patients.
His face is the most prominent one on this year's poster for the fundraising campaign that continues through much of November, culminating with the Tree of Hope Radiothon on CBC's Radio One, which will be broadcast live from the New Brunswick Community College in Dieppe on Nov. 23rd, from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. The French-language edition will be broadcast from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 24th, on Premi�re Cha�ne de Radio-Canada Atlantique. |
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ilovebdt
Joined: 03 Jun 2005
Location: Nr Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 6:19 pm Post subject: |
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What a great story. 
ilovebdt |
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Hollywoodaction
Joined: 02 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 6:28 pm Post subject: |
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| laogaiguk, are you from New Brunswick? |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 6:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Hollywoodaction wrote: |
| laogaiguk, are you from New Brunswick? |
Yes. |
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tzechuk
Joined: 20 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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| How cute. |
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Reflections
Joined: 04 Jan 2005
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| Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 7:41 pm Post subject: |
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That story vaguely resembles Dostoevsky's "The Brothers Karamazov", where a little boy is relentlessly teased by his classmates after defending the honour of his father.
Ultimately his classmates renounce their bullying tactics at his deathbed. |
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simpleminds
Joined: 04 May 2006
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| Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Wow, what an incredible kid. Kudos to him. |
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Hollywoodaction
Joined: 02 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 9:36 pm Post subject: |
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| laogaiguk wrote: |
| Hollywoodaction wrote: |
| laogaiguk, are you from New Brunswick? |
Yes. |
What town? Seems there's lots of us on this board. |
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