Chemainus Elementary School students got their man, ab(duct)ing Ladysmith RCMP Const. Joe Power.
Chemainus Elementary ‘suspended’ Power as part of a new tradition of raising funds in conjunction with its Terry Fox Run Friday, Sept. 29. He was suspended to the wall of the school gym with duct tape.
“How could we get the children involved in raising the money for cancer research?” explained Chemainus Elementary principal Brenda Stevenson of how the idea originated. “It was about them raising that money going to something and then seeing the impact of what they raised.
“It’s something the children look forward to.”
It all began two years ago, with Stevenson being the first “victim.” Teacher Mike Dunn had his turn taking one for the team last year.
For the third year it was decided to take another approach by “moving it into the community which I think is powerful for the kids,” explained Stevenson.
Const. Power was the perfect subject. “His own children were thrilled with seeing Dad being the person suspended,” noted Stevenson.
Power has three children in the school, including Grade 4 twins Cayden and Chloe Power.
The whole experience, combined with a memorial for longtime Chemainus Elementary School teacher Jane Williams, brought in more than $800.
Some of the children asked their parents for money to buy a piece of duct tape to “stick it” to Const. Power while “some of the children brought in money they had saved to make that donation,” noted Stevenson.
Stevenson purchased all types of funky tape for students to select their pieces. Two classes came in at a time and it took 2 1/2 hours for all the tape to be applied while Power was standing on a milk crate.
After the crate was removed, Power remained suspended to the wall for a few minutes after children who packed back into the gym did the countdown to see if he’d stick.
Williams was also in everyone’s thoughts. She died in January after her battle with cancer.
“All of our cancer fundraising is really done in the memory of Jane,” said Stevenson.
The students also took part in the traditional Terry Fox Run during the day and were joined by some parents.