This year marks an important milestone for the West Ferris Trojan Parade for Cancer.
Twenty-five years ago a young student, Stacey Whittaker whose grandfather had recently been diagnosed with cancer, approached the school about holding a fundraising event to help find a cure.
Teacher Mark Robertson shared the parade's backstory with students during a school assembly to kick off this year's walk.
"She, along with a small group of her friends and teachers decided they would get pledges from the local community and they would walk around the track at the school to raise some funds. They raised a few hundred dollars that year, but the idea really caught on and registered with the students at West Ferris," explained Robertson.
"One of the reasons is because cancer is very prevalent in our society. The reality is, if we ourselves are not touched by the hand of cancer, someone that we love in our lifetime, will be. And make no mistake about it, the hand of cancer is not a gentle one."
Trojans have been walking and fundraising for the local branch of the Canadian Cancer Society and other related organizations such as camps for children battling cancer, and Trojan families directly impacted, long before any of these students were even born. Some may even have a parent who took part when they were a student at the school.
Its humble beginnings have grown into a major fundraising event. Just over $250,000 has been raised over the past 24 years.
Over the next few weeks leading up to the May 30 walk, students will be focusing on fundraising.
In recognition of its 25th anniversary, this year's goal is to raise $25,000, a record high.
"We would like to do that, but we understand it is a lofty goal. We do know any money that we do raise would be great. We actually have letters out to local businesses and corporations hoping that they might donate to us to so we can donate to the cancer society," said Student Success teacher, Erin Robertson
The committee is also reaching out far and wide to the Trojan alumni community.
"We always have Trojan alumni who are dropping off cheques when we have the parade for cancer. I actually had a message through Facebook the other day asking when the parade was taking place. We do rely on alumni heavily, and they're always very supportive."
Mark Robertson says over the history of the event, a few students at the school have waged their own personal battles with cancer.
"We've had students, even in the last couple of years, who are actually undergoing treatment. We've had alumni, we've had students whose parents are fighting cancer," said Robertson.
The parade starts at the school, ending at the North Bay waterfront.
