Beurling Academy student Cassandra Wakefield: an unsung hero

A Beurling Academy student in Verdun, graduating this year, got involved in a fund raising effort this past year and it was a journey that student Cassandra Wakefield will not soon forget and a few weeks ago it came to a happy ending.

It was a big fire last October on Newman Blvd. that affected Cassandra. Cassandra continues, “My mom knew a friend who was involved with the family that got hurt in the fire, lost all their things, objects, like clothes, and how I started with this, I got clothing, I asked friends, and gave some of my personal clothing, so that they would have some things so they could live their lives again.”

No lives were lost in that particular fire, but there were injuries, with the fire in the hallway and going into the rooms, so to escape residents had to jump out of the window and some of them broke their legs and arms, and some ended in a wheelchair for a few months. “There was also a baby that had to be thrown out of the window to be saved, and to throw a baby to get saved, this really affected me, and I didn’t want to stop there”, said Cassandra.

This is when Cassandra moved into high gear as she wanted to do more, realizing other people could use some help, and came up with the idea of doing a rock show at Beurling Academy, as she heard a lot of people wanted to do a show at the school. “I put the ideas together and I talked to my English teacher Miss Panko about what happened, how I was upset and that it took over me, and that I really need to do something”, stated Cassandra in a determined voice.

Miss Panko then helped her with a proposal which had to be presented to Principal Chris Cyr, then for subsequent approval by staff council and the Governing Board.

The Battle of the Bands show was on with 7 groups, and the show’s theme was “Raise the Volume and the Funds”. A lot of work was required for this show. Anybody knowing Cassandra knows she’s the organized type, so she got a group to put on this event, to take care of the various functions such as, security, food, ticket sales, advertising, etc.

Snacks and drinks were also required to sell during intermission to bring in extra money. Cassandra, armed with a letter from Principal Cyr went around to various supermarkets in the area and got donations.

The show raised $1100.00 and about 300 people attended, and now who to give the money to. Cassandra, through the months, unbelievably, could not get an organization to accept the funds because of the usual red tape, and now the end of the school year was facing her. Through the assistance of a family friend, Sue St.Jean of Verdun, who, in turn got in touch with CHOM promotions director Skip Snair, who got in contact with the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation, and discovered they had a baby burn unit.

On Thursday June 21st Cassandra presented a cheque to the Foundation. If Cassandra is any indication of today’s youth becoming tomorrow’s leaders, then the world will be a better place. Way to go, Cassandra!