Ten-year-old Heather, who celebrated her birthday yesterday at South Common Community Centre, doesn't want brightly packaged birthday gifts. Instead, she has asked her classmates and friends to make donations to benefit Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children.
Turns out Heather got the idea from her bible study group.
“She decided last February that since she has everything she needs she would rather do something that would benefit someone else,” Laura Preston, Heather's mother said.
Heather's generosity is also connected to another cause — this one close to her heart. Her classmate and friend Taylor Finnigan has an inoperable brain tumour.
“In September Taylor brought pictures of her tumour from 2006 and 2007,” Heather said. “There was a big difference because the tumour had shrunk. So I thought if I raise this money, it could make Taylor's tumour even smaller.”
When the Preston family called Sick Kids to inform them about the planned fundraiser they were told they could choose to allocate the money specifically to benefit any cause. Heather didn't blink. She chose brain tumour research.
Heather and her friends enjoyed a pool party with an hour of swimming and an hour of celebration.
rpanjwani@mississauga.net
