One of the biggest honours I had over the past year was serving as captain for my two daugthers’ school team of 140 strong members for the CIBC Annual “Run for the Cure.” The “Run for the Cure” is an annual run, and fundraiser, for breast cancer research.
Both Ciara (in grade 9) and Ceili (in grade 2) were very involved in the lead up, and the run itself, and encouraged their classmates and friends to participate. The run was a great event at the school.
(And the picture on the stage includes the prime minister’s wife, Laureen Harper, on the left hand side with some of our Elmwood Eagles team on race day in Ottawa.)
My daughter, Ciara, even won the senior school video contest that I set up at the school. (And, no, I wasn’t a judge!)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuF10NUWOVk&list=UU4lUGLkA5gZ-Id5f6IJlraw
And, I was honoured that my partners at The Carlyle Hotel showed their support for the initiative. My friend, Christina Hoe-Knudsen Lamoureux, arranged to have a 2 night stay at The Carlyle made available to the top student fundraiser. 
And our school winner did not disappoint. Maya Mainland-Gratton not only led the Elmwood Eagles to being the top school fundraiser in the Ottawa region (raising almost $30,000 as a team). Maya raised almost $12,000 all on her own, and her outstanding efforts led her to win the youth award for the entire province of Ontario. See here for the news release http://www.cbcf.org/
Here’s a photo of Maya being feted in Toronto at the Royal York with a special presentation of her Ontario Youth award.
I’m thrilled to say she’s come through her own personal battle with breast cancer this year.)