Fun coloured socks were in style during the Walkathon. Photos: Adi Mariana Waqa
SELFLESS CHARITY
What do you get when you have colourful socks, runners, music, bubbles, and children pacing around their school block? A Fundraising WALKATHON!
On Friday, October 11, 2024, children at St Vincent de Paul's Primary School, Strathmore, participated in a Walkathon that raised $2,656.00 in donations towards the work of the Columban in countries like Pakistan, Peru, and the Philippines.
The school grounds buzzed with energy as Columban Frs Bernie Lane and John Hegerty eagerly joined teachers and students on their round-the-block conquests!
Deputy Principal, Mrs Laura Petrie, explained that students had fundraised through bazaars and stalls in previous years. However, this time, the school decided on a fundraising activity that instilled the value of selfless charity whereby students were required to give without expecting anything tangible in return, besides knowing that their walk around the school would raise money for people in need.
MINNIE VINNIES
Demonstrating student agency to create change, the Walkathon was organised by the "Minnie Vinnies," a group of grade 6 students, who with the help of their teachers, facilitated the Walkathon successfully. Minnie Vinnie member, Chloe, shared that it took them only one week of planning to organise the Walkathon due to their fundraising experience from previous years. She also shared that organising the event helped her learn that children like her could help people in need by giving to Catholic charity groups.
"A lot of people are less fortunate than us and, as children we can't really go out there doing charity work. But something we can do is donate to a group like the Columbans who then use the money to help the poor."
PARENTS SET EXAMPLES
Parents who supported the Walkathon in numbers volunteered at stationed key points or participated in the walk with babies in strollers and dogs on leashes. One mother advocated the importance of incorporating physical education with charity work, while another spoke about setting a good example for children to come together and raise funds for those in need. Parents participating in the event demonstrated the school's vibrant community spirit! They walked alongside the children, supervised checkpoints, and chatted with teachers who proudly watched their students complete multiple laps around the school block.
THE PRINCIPAL AND THE SAINT
The event was well organised, and teachers safely escorted students from prep to grade six around the block before being greeted with loud cheers, music, and bubbles from the Minnie Vinnies team. School Principal, Shane Byrnes, joined in on the fun, sharing that the Walkathon aimed for students to understand the role of St Vincent de Paul's mission to help people experiencing poverty. "We wanted them as children to learn that the work of St Vincent de Paul also includes supporting organisations like the Columbans who live and work with the poor and vulnerable both in Australia and overseas."
"We tried to instill the principles and values of St Vincent de Paul, such as compassion, empathy, courage, and respect. This way the students can practice Vincentian virtues in community and put their faith to action by positively impacting the lives of people through charity work."
GIVING THANKS
Columban Frs John Hegerty and Bernie Lane were impressed with the enthusiasm and school spirit shown at the Walkathon, so much so that the two priests kept up with the students and completed eight straight laps around the school! They demonstrated that age was no barrier for two seasoned missionaries whose ministry amongst the poor and vulnerable has been made possible through the generosity of kind donors like those at St Vincent de Paul's Primary School.
St Columbans Mission Society would like to thank the students, teaching staff, and parents for their effort and generous donation. The students of St Vincent de Paul's Primary School have shown what is possible when children are encouraged to act on behalf of people less fortunate than themselves while being supported by teachers and parents who invest their time and resources to develop good leaders of the future. Together, we can make a difference!
Adi Mariana Waqa is the Partnership Coordinator at the Columban Mission Centre in Essendon.
Related links
- Read more from The Far East - March/April 2025
