There are very few times you can see students skateboarding down the halls of the Jasper Junior/Senior High School, or leaping from the stage in the gymnasium onto a giant crash mat in their pyjamas.
Feb. 28, however, all that鈥攁nd more鈥攚ent down in the school.
Friday evening students roamed and sometimes skated through the halls of the building, where they spent the entire night doing anything to keep from thinking about food.
They were participating in a fast-a-thon fundraiser, organized by the school鈥檚 peer support group.
Beginning Friday at noon, just after a huge pot-luck lunch, the students fasted for 24 hours. To make the event more than just a day of going hungry, the organizers decided to keep everyone together in the school, and planned a host of activities to keep them entertained鈥攅verything from movies, to board games to presentations on the charities they supported.
Those charities were the Jasper Ladies Hospital Auxiliary鈥檚 ultrasound fund, and the Global Enrichment Foundation鈥檚 school lunch program in Somalia.
In total, 20 students participated in the event, collecting more than $1,000 in pledges, which will be split between the two causes.
In an interview before the fast-a-thon began, Elena Kellis said she was inspired to take part in the fundraiser after learning the story of Amanda Lindhout, the Global Enrichment Foundation鈥檚 founder. Lindhout was held captive in Somalia for more than a year, and when she finally escaped she started the foundation to help people like those who held her captive.
鈥淲ithin a year she had this foundation running. She showed such compassion and I think it鈥檚 good that we鈥檙e supporting that, that we鈥檙e bringing attention to it,鈥� she said.
Along with raising a nice chunk of change for two charities, the event gave students a rare opportunity: to have some pressure-free fun in the building where many of them have received most of their formal education.
Teacher Paulette Blanchette-Dube explained that, with the old school set to be demolished in the wake of the completion of the new building, the all-nighter will likely be one of the last chances many of the students have to spend some quality time enjoying the space.
As she spoke, a student whizzed by on his longboard, cackling with delight.
聽Trevor Nichols
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