'I hope he can feel better': Edmonton students raise $10K to support classmate with cancer
Students at an Edmonton school rallied around one of their classmates with a terminal form of cancer on Wednesday.
Karter Bourgeault was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) in July. It's a cancer that attacks the brain stem, making up 10 to 15 per cent of brain tumours in children.
According to the DIPG Registry, fewer than 10 per cent of children diagnosed with the cancer will survive two years after diagnosis.
Karter's family says there aren't a lot of treatment options for DIPG in Canada.
They've spent thousands of dollars travelling to the States trying to get Karter into clinical trials, but so far have not been successful.
Because of that, his friends and classmates at Crawford Plains School in south Edmonton decided to raise money for research for Karter's cancer.
"It's an Oiler-themed fundraiser in Karter’s honour. The proceeds are going to brain cancer research for kids," said Karter's mom, Nicole Fraser.
During the Oilers playoff run, the school had fanfare days, selling blue and orange gear on game days.
"Today is our grand finale event where students have been getting pledges to have their hair shaved or dyed," Crawford Plains principal Lisa Nachtigal said.
Students at Crawford Plains School participate in a head shaving fundraiser on May 31, 2023. (CTV News Edmonton)
The students raised more than $10,000.
"My heart is bursting. I’m so proud of our school community and how they’ve rallied. This is a really special day today."
More than half of the money was raised by one student, Giles Baker.
Giles put out a call on his mother's Instagram page, pledging to shave his head in exchange for donations.
Giles Baker and his mother Kara. (CTV News Edmonton)
"Karter had cancer, so I wanted to shave my head to raise money for him," Giles told CTV News Edmonton.
He said it's hard watching his classmate go through a serious illness.
"I hope he can feel better."
His mother Kara Baker said she's proud of her son's accomplishment.
"His goal was $200, and we surpassed that by a milestone. We were able to raise $5,270."
"It's phenomenal. The fact that he could inspire so many people, and the generosity of people, it’s heartwarming."
Karter's family is still searching for a clinical trial to help their son.
Karter Bourgeault with his mother Nicole and father Richard on May 31, 2023. (CTV News Edmonton)
His mother says he took a turn for the worse in March, when the tumour splintered in his brain.
"Now that he took this turn I’ve stopped working. [His father's] been lucky enough to be home with him since he got diagnosed, but we’re just spending as much time with him as we can because there is no other treatments."
Fraser said they don't know what's next for Karter, but being at school and the support from his friends has helped him through some of the dark days.
"The kids here have been so amazing for him. He's had such support from all of them."
"It definitely makes him push harder and he tries to succeed more."
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Jessica Robb and Brittany Ekelund
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Highlights from the 2024 Met Gala exhibit: Sleeping Beauty would wake up for these gowns
Sure, she was a royal princess and all. But there’s no way Sleeping Beauty — either before or after her nap — ever had quite the fabulous wardrobe that’s been assembled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.