U of L students earn national recognition for fundraising efforts

trevor.kenney — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 16:26:53 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students Anna Kovalchuk and Devynn Helischauer have earned CIBC Education Awards for their fundraising prowess in the annual Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure Post Secondary Challenge.

Each year, CIBC and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) challenge post-secondary students to show their pink spirit, get involved and raise funds for breast cancer research, education and awareness initiatives. In celebration of their hard work and dedication to giving back to their community, the top five regional and 10 national individual fundraisers across Canada receive a CIBC Education Award of $2,500 to help with school expenses.

Kovalchuk is a fourth-year neuroscience student who has been honoured with a CIBC Education Award for three successive years. She raised the second highest dollar amount of the national winners, totaling $4,410. Helischauer, a mathematics and kinesiology student who last year led all Alberta students in fundraising, brought in $3,536 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

"It is my intent to pursue a career in medicine and medical research, and it is crucially important to strengthen research and community funding," says Kovalchuk on her motivation as a fundraiser. "Research funding stems from donations and fundraisers that are organized by foundations such as CBCF. I have been involved in cancer research since my first year at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. Some of the research projects that I have been involved in were supported by Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation grants. Participating in a run like this and raising funds for the CBCF is my way to give back to the foundation."

This year, Post Secondary Challenge participants from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta and MacEwan ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ won nine of the 15 awards given to students across Canada. They helped to collectively raise almost $500,000 for the cause.

"I would like to congratulate the 2013 CIBC Education Award recipients, and all students participating in the Post Secondary Challenge across Canada, for your fundraising efforts and dedication to finding a cure for breast cancer," says Mark Galbraith, Region Head, Alberta, CIBC. "You inspire hope that the legacy of the CIBC Run for the Cure will continue through the compassion, determination and strong leadership of future generations."

To view full results of the 2013 Post Secondary Challenge, visit www.runforthecure.com/psc.

U of L student top fundraiser

trevor.kenney — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 22:49:21 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's Devynn Helischauer is the top Alberta student fundraiser in the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure Post Secondary Challenge.

The challenge inspired Canada's college and university students and faculty to raise more than $500,000 for breast cancer research, education, awareness and advocacy.

Helischauer, who raised $4,000 during the challenge as part of team Treasured Chests, won a $2,500 CIBC Education Award to help with her tuition expenses.

Fellow ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge student Anna Kovalchuk and Ken Soong from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta were also named among the top national fundraisers to win a CIBC Education Award in 2012.

"I was honoured and shocked to receive this award as this cause is close to my heart," says Helischauer. "My mom and grandma have breast cancer and I am glad I can make a difference. This is very helpful to me as it can support my education costs."

"CIBC was very proud to present the Post Secondary Challenge," says Mark Galbraith, vice-president, Alberta, CIBC. "Our goal is to raise breast cancer awareness among Canada's students and motivate as many young people as possible to raise funds that will make a difference in the lives of those living with breast cancer. Congratulations to the CIBC Education Award winners and thank you to all of the students who together raised more than half a million dollars."

Kovalchuk has been a consistent participant in the Run for the Cure.

"I've been participating in the CIBC Run for the Cure for the past few years and I had a great experience doing the Post Secondary Challenge last year," she says. "A scholarship was a great motivator for my fundraising! I volunteer and fundraise for the cause with the hopes that I never will have a personal connection to it."

UNews - Mark Galbraith

U of L students earn national recognition for fundraising efforts

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U of L student top fundraiser

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