School Program

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Inspiring Student Leaders & Building School Communities! Meagan’s Story

Meagan and her sister Sarah Grace accept handmade origami cranes symbolizing hope from the students at their school. This moment would become the catalyst for the Meagan’s Walk school program across the GTA and school boards.

Meagan Bebenek passed away from an inoperable brain tumour in 2001 when she was 5 years old. During her months of treatments Meagan focused her time making and wrapping presents to give to her caregivers and friends - her way of saying thank you for their love and caring, and perhaps even goodbye. Her family, friends and school community rallied around her during this time with an outpouring of caring and actions of support for her, her family and her caregivers. Her mother, Denise Bebenek vowed to be a voice and steward, to let anyone who is suffering know they need not journey alone. Meagan’s Walk: Creating a Circle of Hope was founded.

School Program The school program is a key pillar of our mission. The mission to empower young students to make a difference. The call to action of “kids helping kids” has been pivotal in not only raising awareness and funds, but of building more compassionate communities that come together to support those in need. The school program has provided students with unique leadership opportunities and in turn built stronger school communities.

After attending a Meagan’s Walk event at St. Bruno’s I was inspired by their passion, and realized that even the smallest communities can make a difference. – Parent Evelyn Ligias with daughter Victoria –

It is a real gift when we share the successful message of Meagan’s Walk mission. It inspires and empowers students to know that their efforts make a difference in the lives of others who need them. In my school experience, schools across Ontario readily embrace the caring and compassionate Meagan’s Walk message of hope. – Geoffrey Grant – Former Superintendent of Schools for TCDSB

Revised 2016/2017

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Bring the spirit Why We Walk of Meagan's Walk into your School today! CREATE YOUR OWN SCHOOL HUGS! The heart and signature event for Meagan’s Walk is the 5KM walk that culminates with a human hug around the Hospital for Sick Children, in Toronto, Ontario. There, thousands of hands join to embrace the hospital and those within. This hug is a symbol of community and love – a support to the patients, their families, the caregivers, the doctors and the researchers - to show those within they are not alone on their journeys. Over the years, we have seen many of our school communities embrace a ‘school hug’ event within their own school yards, or in their school hallways. Many administrators and students have shared that this “human hug” is one of the most powerful experiences they themselves have participated in and has left a lasting impression. With the same spirit as the hug around the hospital as a symbol of community and love – this extends to our students and brings them together to better understand empathy and compassion towards their fellow students and school community.

Contact our school team!

“Being a student ambassador for Meagan's Walk gave me the opportunity to develop my leadership skills in a supportive and fun environment, while also allowing me to gain a greater appreciation for the fact that communities and individuals, united by hope, can have a massive, positive impact on our world!." - Sara Brade -

Our school program has been inspired by the Our Lady of Sorrows school community that rallied around Meagan and her family during their journey. On a very special spring day, the student community gathered on the front lawn of the school and presented Meagan with thousands of handmade cranes to share messages of hope. It was the idea of one student, and supported by school teachers and administration. The school community was changed permanently. Over the past 15 years, our vibrant school program has been embraced by many schools throughout the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. The program has inspired many students and colleagues to build and foster caring and compassion within their own school communities and helped provide various opportunities for developing student leadership with the mission of “kids helping kids”. This program is a springboard to empower young people to share their gifts and talents, and to help those in their communities who are vulnerable. Brain tumours are the leading cause of cancer related deaths in young children today.

Meagan’s Walk funds initiatives that bring the world’s top brain tumour experts together to share knowledge and collaborate on reasearch. We’ve been doing that for over 15 years.

Did you know?

Over 10,000 Canadian children are in cancer treatment right now, yet only 3% of government cancer funding goes towards children’s cancer research. Funds raised through Meagan’s Walk are directed to SickKids and the The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre (BTRC) - considered to be one of the largest and most important research centres in the world. Ground breaking research has global impacts, improving care, treatment and outcomes.

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Little by little, a little becomes a lot! “Once we experienced first-hand the impact Meagan’s Walk made on the lives of so many young cancer patients, we knew that we wanted to help in any way that was possible. We then gathered a team to walk in Meagan’s Walk as well as a group to be part of the Hug Team at the end of the walk. Seeing how our whole school community came together to support such a meaningful cause made me incredibly proud of our school. I cannot wait to participate in all of the future Meagan’s Walks!" - Lauren Amaral, High School Student -

Fundraising efforts are helping children and doctors, today and tomorrow. There is a tremendous opportunity to bring this into your school and inspire your students to help others.

Origami Cranes Sharpen you artistic skills and learn to make origami cranes. Organize student crane making races to include donations for participation.

Host a Music Night or Talent Show Get students and teachers together and host a fun night of entertainment. Sell front row seats for a premium.

Bad Hair Day Everyone’s had one! Go to school with the craziest hair ever, all for a good cause.

Host a Bake Sale Bake the coolest cookies, cakes or cupcakes and host a bake sale.

Join One of the World’s Biggest Hugs With a School Team Create your own school team and join our signature walk to raise funds.The 5km walk ends at SickKids with all the participants joining hands in a symbolic hug around the hospital letting those inside know that they are not alone. Soon we came to realize that Meagan's Walk is way more than just an annual walk. We now know that Denise and the Meagan's Walk team are very special people who have committed themselves not just to the battle against brain tumours but to providing each one of us with an immense sense of belonging and relief from – Parent – Cathy Miller and her son Christopher – the load of our unending journeys.

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Get Started Today! Build your community with the "fun" in Fundraising! Popsicle Day Crazy Hat Day

Pizza Day

We Can Help Our team would be happy to work with your school, share more about Meagan’s Walk and demonstrate how our school program can complement your curriculum. • We can provide coaching on event management. • We can participate in student assemblies or at parent or school council meetings.

Danceathon Toonie Drive Smoothie Day

Art Show, Battle of the Bands, Book swap/sale, Buddy Bench, Candy Grams, Dress Down Days, Flower or Bulb Sale, Halloween Haunted House, Handmade Bracelets, Holiday Wreath Sale, Jelly Bean Count, Lego Competition, Money Wall, Pajama Day, Penny Wars, Plant a Special Tree, School Fair Donation Drive, Toy Swap Sale.

And so much more! “There is no question that without the support of Meagan’s Walk over the last decade we would not be considered the top paediatric brain tumour research centre in the world.” – Dr. Christian Smith, Operations Manager, the Brain Tumour Research Centre –

CONTACT OUR SCHOOL TEAM Meagan’s Walk 3273 Boor Street West, Suite 201 Toronto, Ontario M8X 1E2 416.239.7843 [email protected] www.meaganswalk.com

Social Media is an integral way that Meagan’s Walk spreads our message of hope. Follow Meagan’s Walk on TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and FLICKR. Use #meaganswalk so we can follow you right back!

• We can liaise with student leaders.

Kick-Start Your School Your First Step: Say YES to bringing the spirit of Meagan’s Walk in to your school community. • Visit www.meaganswalk.com to learn more about Meagan’s Walk, the families and researchers impacted by fundraising efforts, and what other communities are doing to support the cause. The more you know – the more you can share. • Rally your staff – designate an ambassador to champion the effort. • Rally your students – work with your staff to get the kids involved! • Rally your community – work with your parent council to get the community engaged!

Thank You for your Support!

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