P.E.I. teachers, staff get neon hairdos after students exceed Terry Fox fundraising goal

Students at West Royalty Elementary School in P.E.I. got to see the benefit from going above and beyond in their fundraising for the Terry Fox Foundation this year a chance to see their entire teaching staff with neon-coloured hair on Wednesday.

That was the challenge set forth by the school and there werea number of goals to help encourage the students to get involved.

If they raised $1,000, they would get an extra recess. At$1,500, the principal, vice-principal and physical education teachers would also all dye their hair pink for the day.

If they reached $2,000, the school specialists would dye their hair.

Then there was the final goal of $2,500.

'We were very pleased'

"If students raised that amount of money, all of our teaching staff and [educational assistants], custodial staff any staff in the building would dye their hair a neon colour for the day," said school principal Marilyn MacLean.

"We were very pleased that the students rose to the occasion and they raised just over $2,700."

The final total raised by the students was $2,763and Wednesday was the day the students got to enjoy the extra recess time and colourfully-haired staff.

"I was shocked. It was so funny, I couldn't take my teacher seriously. Like pink hair, purple hair, all different colours," said Grade 6student Natalya Haddad.

They also had a special guest visit the school to talk about Terry Fox's legacy his older brother Fred Fox.

"Nine thousand schools in Canada are raising money for cancer research,keeping Terry's dream alive," Fox said, who is also the manager of supporter relationswith the Terry Fox Foundation.

"Terrysimply wanted to make a difference in cancer research and schools like West Royalty are doing just that."

Some of the students had a personal connectionto raise funds for cancer research.

Ben Green and his younger brother Sam managed to raise $600 for the causeby giving up part of their allowances and asking others to donateover the year.

"I don't care about toys, I care about Terry Fox more," Ben said.

"Our nana passed away from cancer. She always ran the Terry Fox run. That's why we do it every year."

The amount of money raised has inspired the principal to commit to challenging the students in the future.

"I think we've started a tradition that we need to keep up here at West Royalty Elementary School and we'll be putting our heads together and coming up with a new challenge for next year," said MacLean.

"Each of us in our own little way can contribute and do meaningful things and by reaching our goals, that's one of the things that I think everybody can do."

More P.E.I. news