Origami crane ceremony launches SickKids fundraiser Meagan’s Walk
Posted April 10, 2013 7:46 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Fundraising organizers at SickKids got a head start on the 12th annual Meagan’s Walk with an origami crane ceremony on Wednesday.
Students from Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School, St. Raphael Catholic School and St. Jane Frances Catholic School presented 1,000 paper cranes – a symbol of hope – to patients at the Hospital for Sick Children.
“I don’t know what it’s like to have to deal with something like that,” Grade 12 student Olivia Morano told CityNews.
“But I have volunteered at SickKids, so seeing kids that are so sick and that can’t do anything about it…it’s about providing that hope.”
The cranes, which represent peace and long life, were given to children who have survived brain tumours.
“It’s beautiful. It’s what Meagan’s Walk is all about – paying it forward,” said Denise Bebenek, who started Meagan’s Walk after her five-year-old daughter Meagan died of an inoperable brain tumour in 2001.
“It’s so humbling and compassionate and powerful and unbelievable. And I’m so proud of all these kids,” she said at SickKids.
Since the fundraiser began 12 years ago, more than $2.7 million has been raised for pediatric brain tumour research.
Meagan’s Walk takes place on Mother’s Day, which this year falls on May 11.
Click here for more on the walk.
