BHS’ support for FECRI a success

A NEW initiative in Ballarat High School (BHS) students’ support of the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute (FECRI) has been an overwhelming success.

Every year, BHS students honour Fiona’s legacy with fundraising efforts like Fiona’s Walk/Colour Run along with raffles and stalls.

The walk and run event has become a highlight of each school year.

But this year, year 12 VCE Vocational Major students took things a step further and designed their own fundraising beanies, badges and pins – the first in what they hope will become an annual tradition.

And the response was outstanding, with every beanie and pin quickly selling out.

As a gesture of thanks, some of the students were given a tour of the FECRI last week during which they toured laboratories and met researchers while wearing their beanies and pins.

“Fiona’s legacy is deeply connected to Ballarat High, and our students are proud to honour her by sharing these beanies and pins to help keep that legacy alive,” Vocational Major teacher Bec Adriaans said.

“The fact that the community snapped them up so quickly shows just how much Fiona’s story still resonates.”

FECRI director Professor George Kannourakis said the passion of the students and support from the community was “remarkable.”

“These young people give us so much hope,” he said. “Fiona was just their age when her journey began, and to see today’s students stepping up with the same courage and determination – and to see the Ballarat community rally behind them – is extraordinary.”

The students will produce more pins if demand for them continues.

The first batch included 100 beanies, about 200 badges and 150 FECRI flowers pins.

The VCE Vocational Major program is a two-year applied learning program aiming to equip students with skills for life and hands-on experience.