Interlake Spectator — Grade 5 students at Winnipeg Beach School are getting a lesson in citizenship and at the same time are rallying around a classmate whose family has been touched by cancer.
Meggie Allardice, whose aunt has been diagnosed with cancer, was feeling despondent that her aunt had been denied medication that could prolong her life.

Attempts by her aunt to access the drug Avastin, which helps thwart the growth of blood vessels that nourish the cancerous tumors, has produced little in the way of positive results even though she is willing to pay for the drug herself.

Teacher Donna Hunter knew the family situation and she also could sense the other students’ concern for their classmate’s happiness. The grade fivers couldn’t understand if drugs are available to help sick people then why can’t they get them.

Hunter felt it was a question that could be more easily explained by the Minister of Health, Tim Sale, so she encouraged her students to write the minister and ask for answers.

“The kids wanted to help Meggie but didn’t know how. They don’t feel that anyone would listen to them so I felt we could accomplish a number of things by writing letters,” Hunter said.

Nineteen letters were sent off to the minister, all with a common theme. “Please help my friend Meggie,” writes one student while another pulls no punches and gets straight to the point, “I don’t understand why you won’t give Kate Allardice the medication, she has the money. Please explain.”
“Just imagine if you had cancer and they wouldn’t give you the medication, you think about that and let me know,” says another, directing his comment to the minister.

Although Sale’s department has yet to respond to the March 10 letter-writing exercise, Hunter says the class is upbeat and feels empowered now.  “Since the letters were written Meggie has been a different girl. It makes her feel stronger,” Hunter said. Hunter, although not holding her breath waiting for a response from Sale, is hopeful her students’ questions will be answered and that her students will learn that their voices are being heard.

John Coward