RED DEER, AB – In a heartwarming display of camaraderie and compassion, students at Red Deer’s École Secondaire Notre Dame High School have rallied, establishing a powerful student support fund to aid a beloved classmate battling a rare and aggressive cancer. Their collective efforts are focused on providing crucial assistance to Lachlan Ross, a Grade 11 student whose journey has taken an unexpected, challenging turn.
Lachlan, known for his effervescent personality and infectious laughter despite being non-verbal due to a genetic condition, has been a cherished part of Notre Dame’s Foundations program. This initiative helps students with complex needs transition beyond high school. “He’s a party,” describes Alison Snow, Lachlan’s teacher, emphasizing his joyful spirit. “He just brings light.”
However, this academic year has seen Lachlan away from the vibrant halls he loves. After enduring months of escalating pain and extensive medical evaluations at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, he received a devastating diagnosis: undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. His arduous treatment plan involves six months of chemotherapy, punctuated by a significant surgery. The hope is to salvage his limb; if not, amputation remains a grim possibility. His mother, Colette Ross, shares their profound anxiety: “We’re just hoping the chemotherapy can really get rid of the cancer.”
A Community Rallies: The Student Support Fund
Lachlan’s treatment necessitates frequent trips to the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary. For a young man who uses a wheelchair, each journey out of the car and into the hospital is fraught with difficulty and pain. The Ross family desperately needs a wheelchair-accessible van, a vehicle with an eye-watering price tag of up to $100,000. They launched a GoFundMe campaign, but it was Lachlan’s classmates who truly ignited a significant student support fund drive.
“We wanted to get the school involved,” declared Addison Bradley, a Grade 11 student, explaining the motivation behind their actions. “To show our support for Lachlan, to show that we love Lachlan and we want him to get better.” With Ms. Snow’s guidance, Bradley and a cohort of fellow students initiated “Loonies for Lachlan.” During the final week before summer holidays, students could contribute a loonie to wear a hat, get hair tinsel, or even a face tattoo. Furthermore, all proceeds from the student-run coffee cart were donated to the Ross family.
In a testament to their unwavering spirit, the students collectively raised an impressive $2,000 to assist in purchasing the much-needed van. Bradley remarked, “Students donated from a dollar up to $20. It’s great to see that they care so much for Lachlan.” This spontaneous outpouring of generosity underscores the profound connections fostered within the school community, extending beyond specific programs. As many Canadians seek to understand more about this disease, valuable information and essential cancer resources can be found at the Canadian Cancer Society.
The Ross family continues their search for the ideal vehicle, a purchase they anticipate will be genuinely life-changing. Meanwhile, Lachlan’s devoted community at Notre Dame eagerly awaits his return. “It’s his Grade 12 year next year,” Bradley enthused. “It’s mine as well. I want to cross the graduation stage with him.” Such heartfelt sentiments encapsulate the unwavering resolve and deep affection inspiring this extraordinary student support fund.
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