School commemorates late teacher by raising over 4k for cancer society
The staff and students of Ben R. McMullin Public School came out in droves Friday to remember former teacher Jennifer Kelly, whose life was tragically cut short earlier this year due to cancer.
To honour Kelly's memory, the school organized a fundraising walk for the end of the week, where all the proceeds from this campaign would be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society.
Ben R. McMullin principal Greg Murray kicked off the event by revealing that the school had generated around $4,600, which far exceeded the campaign's original goal of $2,500.
Because of Kelly's dedication to teaching the French language and the arts for over a decade at the school, Murray also unveiled the new "Jennifer Kelly French Award," which will be given out to graduating students moving forward.
"We were all very fortunate to have had her in our lives, we were all very fortunate that she was here to have high standards for all of her students," Murray said.
"And she believed each and every one of her students could achieve great things ... so that's why we're here today."
The walk itself took place throughout the morning and afternoon, with participants completing laps around the school yard at their leisure.
Outside of active staff and students, the event also attracted retired teachers, Ben R. McMullin alumni and several members of Kelly's family.
Francine Kelly told The Sault Star that the school's fundraiser and walk served as an "amazing" and fitting tribute to her younger sister, who always aimed to seize the day despite her circumstances.
"She'll be remembered for her passion for life. She lived it to the fullest," Francine said.
"She gave the same amount of life to everything she did, whether it was her teaching, her students, her friends or family, along with her own passions like music, concert going, all of that."
To show their thanks, the family even supplied Ben R. McMullin with a $10,000 donation to help the school continue the work that Kelly was so passionate about.
Kelly passed away on Feb. 16 at the age of 48. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, with the disease eventually spreading to her liver and then the rest of her body.
Despite her deteriorating health, friend and fellow Ben R. McMullin teacher Julie Nelson revealed that Kelly's dedication to her job never wavered.
Nelson vividly remembers Kelly using her lunch break to complete chemo treatment and filling out report cards two days before she passed away.
"The kids would say to me 'I didn't even know she was sick,'" Nelson said.
"Because she came here and she was always a professional. You would never have known what she was going through in her personal life. She was very dedicated to her job and her students."
However, Nelson was quick to point out that Kelly also enjoyed a fulfilling life outside of work and was never afraid to maintain those social connections that meant so much to her.
"Anything that was important, her friends' birthdays, she was always the first one to plan something. She was always up for pretty much anything," Nelson said.
"She didn't let anything slow her down, right up until the end."
kdarbyson@postmedia.com
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Kyle Darbyson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Sault Star
