Lockerby students poised for cancer drive

Lockerby Composite School students are poised to continue a longstanding tradition of caring with the annual Remembering Laura Cotesta, Kids Caring for Kids cancer drive.

The school will kick off its drive Oct. 12 with special guests that include Sudbury Wolves coach Jeff Beukeboom and player Sam Schutt, according to a press release.

Then, on Oct. 27, some 700 students and staff will canvass door-to-door from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., to raise funds for the Northern Cancer Research Foundation.

Students will be wearing appropriate nametags and will hand out receipts for all donations.

This year marks the 16th anniversary of Lockerby’s tribute to former student Laura Cotesta, who left the school with a legacy.

Laura started this campaign while she was attending Lockerby, but also while she was fighting her own battle with cancer.

She saw cancer only as an obstacle in life, one that she was determined to overcome and live through.

Laura also viewed cancer as an opportunity - an opportunity to raise awareness and to fund a pediatric cancer-care facility in Sudbury.

Tired of travelling to Toronto for treatments and unwilling to wait for someone else to act on this, Laura took up the challenge, according to the press release.

Sixteen years ago, Laura and a group of friends founded the “Kids Caring for Kids” cancer drive.

After realizing her dream of graduating from high school, Laura left Lockerby and subsequently passed away.

Her quiet courage and perseverance remain her legacy to Lockerby.

“Lockerby Composite School has kept Laura in the hearts and memory of all students by fulfilling her dream of continuing the cancer drive,” Lockerby Composite School principal Heather Gaffney said in the press release.

To date, more than $500,000 has been raised for pediatric cancer care in the north.

“The students of Lockerby take pride in what they have accomplished as a school and as a group of students. They hope to raise $40,000 this year,” Gaffney added.

-Posted by Arron Pickard