McNally Students Win Another Battle Against Cancer!
Congratulations to McNally High School for another successful Tiger Spirit Bike-a-thon. With the support of their families, the community, the school staff and the Cops for Cancer Iron Team, McNally’s students raised over $58, 000. This accomplishment brings total donations to the Canadian Cancer Society since 1999 to over $350 500.00!
The 7th Annual Tiger Spirit Bike-a-thon was held on November 24 and 25 in McNally’s large gym. 440 students on 45- teams took turns cycling stationary bikes continuously for 24 hours. After a bustle of activity to get the bikes in place the teams began pedaling at 3:30 pm. The official Opening Ceremonies followed at 7:00 pm with MC’s Esther Tran and Randal Soanes-Ulrich introducing the parade of Team Captains lead by Piper Derek McIntyre from the Edmonton Police Service. At 7:30 pm with the help of Salon on 6th’s Beth Evans, and Rebecka Pichoch, many students participated in the Salon on 6th SHAVE EVENT. To the roar of enthusiastic onlookers, participants proved once again that bald is beautiful and showed their extreme discomfort as their legs were waxed. The formal part of the evening concluded with a show by former McNally student, hypnotist Wayne Lee. A definite highlight of the Bike-a-thon, Wayne had the crowd engaged and amazed for over an hour as a group of students performed amusing antics on stage. After the show, the students returned to their bike stations, many of which were now furnished like small apartments. Throughout the night the students took their turns pedaling and participated in a variety of other activities including visiting with friends, playing video games and trying to catch a few hours of sleep. The Student Union also had many competitions and games organized, hula hoop, musical chairs, dodge ball, floor hockey to name a few. In the morning the students enjoyed a hearty breakfast, one of three fantastic meals provided by Ms. Massey’s Foods Program, then team members not cycling trudged off to class. With the support and patience of the teachers the increasingly tired students completed the school day then returned to the gym at 2:00 pm Friday to join the cycling action for the Power Hour and Closing Ceremonies. With renewed energy and enthusiasm, teams cheered as prizes were awarded for the best costume, bike, poster, team name, team spirit and smallest carbon foot print. The top fundraising individuals and teams were also announced and rewarded. Mr Perkins ’ever popular power point presentation recapped the Bike-a-thon with a gallery of photos. The final countdown brought the 24 hours of pedalling, commitment and fun to an end. The cheque presentations to the Firefighter’s Burn Unit for $1, 050 and the Canadian Cancer Society for $58 000 were amazing accomplishments. McNally students truly exemplified the school motto “Nothing But the Best”.
A big thank you to Salon on 6th stylists Beth Evans and Rebecka Pichoch for their head shaving and leg waxing talents and Wayne Lee for donating his time and energy!
Thank you to our sponsors for their generous donations:
Edmonton Eskimos Salon on 6th United Cycle
Sobey’s Gold Bar City of Edmonton Carefree Plumbing and Heating
Canada Day Road Race Metro Continuing Education Southwest Distribution
Scotiabank WEM Telus World of Science Pizza Hut
Walmart Alberta Family Restaurant Chatters
Dairy Queen (Capilano) Zellers (Bonnie Doon) Vertically Inclined
Shoppers Drug Mart on Wayne Gretzky Drive
Congratulations to our top fundraisers:
Top Teams: 1st Tumor Terminators, 2nd Yes We Can Sir Beat Cancer 3rd Scooby Do Solving the Mystery for the Cure
Top Individual: 1st Ted Matskos- 2nd Michelle LeBlanc 3rd Anisha Willoughby and 4th Claire Edwards
Special Thanks to Esther Tran and the Student Union, the teachers that pedalled and helped to supervise, the Physical Education Department, Ms. Massey’s Foods Program, Roy Marko, the U of A student teachers, and all the McNally teaching, support and custodial staff members.