North Island Distance Education School students put on a show and silent auction May 27 to support fellow student Ashtyn Lively.
Ashtyn is a 12-year-old Comox Valley girl living with Crohn’s disease. The proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada and BC Children’s Hospital, where Ashtyn receives treatment.
The highlights of the evening included a visit from Gabriel Callicum, who received support from the NIDES auction last year. While Gabe continues to receive treatment for leukemia, he was all smiles while he and his family took to the stage to thank NIDES for their support.
At the end of the evening, Ashtyn thanked her fellow students, family and friends for their support and announced that during the weeks leading up to the event she canvassed her neighbourhood raising funds and awareness for Crohn’s disease.
Ashtyn alone raised $1,750 to go towards research for a cure. NIDES student are so pleased that through the auction they will be able to match Ashtyn’s donation and still be able to make a sizable donation to the Day Medical Unit at Children’s Hospital.
After Ashtyn’s announcement, all the performers were joined on stage by teacher Derek Brenchley and principal Jeff Stewart for an impromptu and celebratory dance.
— North Island Distance Education School