The students, staff and community of Glen Brae Middle School continued their tradition of reaching out to others by holding its 5th Annual Walk/Run Fundraiser April 30, 2010. The purpose of this annual event is to raise funds in order to help build latrines and urinals in order to improve the sanitation conditions at adopted rural Kenyan primary schools.

A student planning committee under the direction of teacher Pamel Rogers organized the entire event. Invited guests school trustee Ronald French and Pam Reinholdt, Superintendent of Education spoke briefly to the students. Both emphasized the importance of the day’s event and highlighted the fact that this tradition is in its 5th year.

John Smith, President of Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School, quoted recent global trends that underscored the importance of school sanitation to students in developing countries such as Kenya. He stressed that the students at Glen Brae were leading the way for other schools in the HWDSB and across the country to follow.

A founding member of Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School and a former student of Glen Brae, Carissa Borowitz, was introduced. Carissa, currently a McMaster University student, is credited with organizing the first Glen Brae Walk/Run event in 2005. She advised this year’s Glen Brae students that any one person can make a difference in the world.

Also attending this year’s event were two elite Kenyan runners. Josephat Onjeri, this year’s second place finisher of the 30km Around the Bay Road Race, and David Karanja, the 8th place finisher in the 5km race at the Around the Bay event. Both runners walked, ran, answered questions and had their photos taken with
the Glen Brae students.

Glen Brae Middle School’s efforts produced $2307. These funds will immediately be used to complete the most recent latrine building project at a school called Equator Primary School in Nyahururu, Kenya.

On hehalf of the children, Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School wishes to thank Glen Brae Middle School for continuing to reach out to the world.

You are making a difference.