St. Joseph's rallies to support one of their own
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Students and staff at St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Tillsonburg have come together to support one of their own.
Desmond De Lee Beeck is a seven-year-old student at St. Joseph’s School who was diagnosed with Leukemia three years ago. He has been undergoing chemotherapy since his diagnosis, and recently finished his treatments.
“We just wanted to show him support with all the kids, when he came back to school, so we had some bands made. They say ‘Desmond – Our Super Hero,’” said Corrie Thiessen, parent council co-chair. “We’ve been selling them to the kids and the adults.”
All the proceeds from the sale of the bands go to the De Lee Beeck family.
“We decided at the parent council meeting that we would do this - support the family. There were no limitations, we gave them the cash and they could do whatever they wanted with it.”
Thiessen said response to the band fundraiser has been very positive.
“We did ‘Des Days’ last week, Tuesday to Friday we came in at lunch time and the kids bought the bands,” she said noting that some of the students bought second and third sets of them. “Several kids bought more than one band – they came in and they were emptying their piggy banks.”
A total of 500 bands were made by Country Sports near Courtland and sell for $2 apiece. Thiessen said that most of them have already been sold and there are about 75 bands remaining.
In addition to the bands, students at St. Joseph’s School created a banner for Desmond, written with kind and encouraging words for him and his family.
“It has been absolutely amazing that the parent council has stepped up and done this for us as a family,” said Desmond’s mom, Teressa De Lee Beeck.
“I absolutely love that the children are showing their support towards Desmond.”
Older sister Kyaira, age eight, has also been out showing her support for her younger brother Desmond.
“We have been doing cards for him,” she said. “It makes me feel happy about my brother.”
De Lee Beeck is now in complete remission and is back at school.
“He’s doing very well since he ended treatments (in March),” said Desmond’s mom, Teressa. “The cancer is gone and he is being a typical seven-year-old boy.”
Thiessen said the fundraiser demonstrates the amount of love and compassion students at St. Joseph’s Catholic School have for their fellow classmates.
“The initial thought was that we would support the family and it was the parent council saying we need to help this family – we’re a community. We need to get behind this family, we know the costs that come with it, and we didn’t know their situation, we just wanted to help.”
The orange band – which is Desmond’s favourite colour, has not only been a symbol of support for the entire family, but has turned into an important lesson for the students themselves.
“Then it turned into more of a message to the kids, said Thiessen. “And for Desmond to come to the school and see all his friends, and even students that he doesn’t know wearing a band.”
More bands have been ordered and will be for sale shortly. If anyone is interested in purchasing an orange band for $2 to show their support for Desmond, contact Katie at katie_vr@hotmail.com.
Seven-year-old Desmond De Lee Beeck of St. Joseph's Catholic School in Tillsonburg proudly shows off one of his orange bands with the inscription 'Desmond - Our Superhero.' The bands were the idea of the school's parent council, and were created as a means to fundraise and show support for Desmond, who was diagnosed with Leukemia three years ago and recently completed his chemotherapy treatments. There are a few bands remaining, if interested in purchasing one for $2, contact Katie at katie_vr@hotmail.com. KRISTINE JEAN/TILLSONBURG NEWS/QMI AGENCY