Brayden White thrust his arm in the air and repeated his motto in Charlottetown Wednesday as the 2018 Easter Seals ambassador kicked off the Tim Horton’s school tour.
“Be brave; never give up,’’ Brayden roared to cheers from a gymnasium packed with students at Prince Street School, one of many stops the Grade 7 Georgetown student was making on day one of the tour.
“I have Down syndrome. I know that I learn slower than most people but I am smart and I learn the same as everyone,’’ Brayden said. “It just takes me longer. I am just like you. I am no different. My dad always says that someday I will be able to live on my own and have a job.’’
Related: Georgetown student Brayden White chosen as P.E.I.'s 2018 Easter Seals Ambassador
The youngster talked about his school, his teachers and told students at Prince Street that while his favourite sport is hockey he also likes basketball and soccer, too.
“I (also) love to go to the horse races and my favourite driver is Marc Campbell,’’ Brayden said, referring to the successful harness racing driver at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
He also offered some advice to fellow students in terms of scoring some points with the parents at home.
“I am very good at helping my dad (Melvin). I always put away my clothes and listen really well.’’
Brayden also enjoys going to camp at Camp Gencheff.
Tour stops
- Thursday, April 19 – Englewood, Amherst Cove, Miscouche Consolidated, Ecole-sur-Mer, Greenfield, Elm Street, Athena, Parkside, Summerside Intermediate, Three Oaks, Queen Elizabeth, Kensington Intermediate, Somerset Elementary, Kinkora Regional High
- Friday, April 20 – Tignish Elementary, Ecole Francaise de Prince-Ouest, ME Callaghan Junior High, St. Louis Elementary, Alberton Elementary, Westisle Composite, Bloomfield Elementary, Hernewood Junior High, O’Leary Elementary, Ellerslie Elementary, Ecole Evangeline
- Monday, April 23 – Glen Stewart Primary, Stratford Elementary, Birchwood Intermediate, Colonel Gray, Queen Charlotte, Charlottetown Rural, West Royalty Elementary, Grace Christian, Ecole Saint Augustin, Gulf Shore, Central Queens, Bluefield
- Tuesday, April 24 – Souris Regional High, Ecole La-Belle-Cloche, Morell Regional High, Morell Consolidated, Mount Stewart Consolidated, L.M. Montgomery, Ecole Francois Buote, Donagh Regional High
- Wednesday, April 25 – Vernon River Consolidated, Belfast Consolidated, Southern Kings Consolidated, Montague Regional, Montague Consolidated, Montague Intermediate, Cardigan Consolidated, Georgetown Consolidated
Before departing Prince Street on Wednesday, one of the students presented Brayden with a cheque for $500 the students had raised for Easter Seals, one of many cheques the ambassador is certain to accept as the tour winds across the Island until Wednesday, April 25.
“(The money) means that other kids like me can go to camp and that we can do special things,’’ Brayden said.
Anna MacKenzie, principal at Prince Street School, said the students organized their own fundraiser.
“They developed the three projects that we did all on their own,’’ MacKenzie said. “So we had a hat sale, a bake sale and a pajama day and the kids raised $500. It was an excellent response from the children. I was very proud of them.’’
Janice Blacquiere, events co-ordinator with D.P. Murphy Inc., which owns the Tim Horton’s restaurants, said the tour will encompass 10 to 13 schools per day over six days.
“Each school makes a donation to Easter Seals and what that does is helps to help physically challenged children, whether it be (with) hearing devices; it might be with computers (or) schools may need doors widened so wheelchairs would have easy access,’’ Blacquiere said, citing a few examples of what the money could be used for.
“We can’t thank the schools for their continuing support enough of Easter Seals. It’s wonderful.’’
