Terry Fox students have a heart and it's as big as the whole wide world.
For as long as anyone at the school can remember, graduating students have been raising funds for special causes through their legacy project.
This year the goal of the Legacy Team is to raise enough money so a toddler can get much-needed surgery for a para-spinal tumor in New York.
Lina Palethorp, of Squamish, is only just a year and a half old and has already undergone eight rounds of chemotherapy. Now she needs the surgery and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Clinic offers the least invasive surgery available but it's costly.
The students want to help because they say Baby Lina has wormed her way into their hearts since they first heard about her. But they are also thinking about Terry Fox, their school's name-sake, who also died of cancer.
"This hit kind of close because it's cancer," said Carla De Santo. "We're just so touched by her story."
According to teacher sponsor Jennifer Fort, the family is struggling on a single income and would not ordinarily be able to pay for this surgery. "It's a difficult decision to make, a life and death decision," Fort said.
She mentioned the family's plight in September and the students took on the project, starting with a bake sale. This Saturday, May 5 will be the biggest fundraiser of all. The students hope to raise $2,000 with a swap meet geared to kids and families.
It will be held Saturday, May 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the school gym. It costs $1 to get in but children under eight are free. Some 45 tables have been sold and the Fox students will be selling toys and other items for babies, toddlers and children, too. There will also be a concession, crafts for kids and a silent auction.
"We started with a bake sale and it's become this big thing," said Gabriella Chan, one of the students on the Legacy team.
Other key helpers have included Rebecca Sclater, Ashley Brown and Mike Hemsworth. For more information, visit www.teamlina.com.
