Schools across Canada are warming up for one of the most distinctly Canadian causes in our country.
    Tomorrow, starting at 10:45 a.m., students from Drumheller Valley Secondary School will be running in the annual Terry Fox National School Run Day 2012.    The goal of the event is to raise both awareness and money for cancer research.
    Organizers for the run at DVSS have set a high goal.
    “We’re trying to push the $25 per student, which would make the total $8,750,” said DVSS teacher Laura Hegberg.
    To encourage students to raise money, organizers are offering some incentives. A few of the male teachers at the school have offered to set a rather dramatic example.
    “We have some incentives for students or the class who raise the most. Some of the male teachers are willing to wax some body parts as incentives,” said Hegberg.
    Should students raise the targeted amount, Jason Rasmussen, Dan Hird, and maybe even associate principal Brad Teske have pledged to undergo a wax. Ryan Hatch has promised to be waxed should students raise $5,000.
    Last year a similar wager was made with students, though the teachers legs went unscathed as students did not quite reach their goal.
    The day will start in the gym for an assembly where students will listen to the story of a Drumheller mother and her son. Melanie Skalk will share the story of her son, Grant’s, battle with a cancer. A battle that ultimately claimed his life.
    The students will also learn how cancer works. Though cancer is a term students know, it may not be something students understand.
    “Our biology teacher is also to explain the biology of cancer to everyone. A lot of people have heard the terms, but might not really know what it is,” said Hegberg.
    After the assembly, students will run 8 kilometers around the school, or for about an hour. Then, students will be treated to a barbecue, cooked by the school’s international students.
    “We have a lot of international students here. They have already been given a little bit of a lesson about who Terry Fox was and they’re going to help out with the barbecue afterwards,” said Hegberg.
    Students will be working  hard to raise money for cancer research and the chance to see a few teachers undergo a rather painful wax.
    “It’s good the students realize 80 per cent of the schools across Canada are running at the same time to raise money for cancer research,” said Hegberg. “Any money we raise helps and gives the students awareness of a great cause.”

    While it may be hard to think of winter while the weather has been so hot as of late, the Rotary Club of Drumheller has plans in the works to offer residents a fun way to enjoy the frosty air this winter.
    It is hoped by the end of October, the grassy area next to the Rotary Spray Park and World’s Largest Dinosaur will house a new, temporary skating rink for residents to enjoy over the winter.
    The news comes after the specifications for the rink were approved by Town administration.
    “We’re hoping for a three way partnership between the Rotary Club of Drumheller, the Town of Drumheller, and the Penitentiary,” said Rotary Club member Jay Garbutt.
    The Rotary would provide the funding for the purchase of the rink, the Town would help set up the rink, and it is hoped a deal can be worked out whereby the Penitentiary could provide maintenance services.
    “We’re happy the Town has approved the specifications of the skating rink we hoped for. The next step is to go through the proper channels to make sure the Penitentiary is on board. If that doesn’t work out, we’ll make sure the club will be able to fulfill the ongoing maintenance needs,” said Garbutt.
    The rink is a portable, temporary structure that could be assembled each autumn and disassembled each spring.
    The location, by the Spray Park, was chosen as a way to create a hub, with possible vending options for hot chocolate and more nearby. Garbutt hinted that other locations are possible should the chosen site present problems.
    “The kind of rink we’re looking at can be put up and taken down each year, so the grassy area across from the spray park can be used during the summer as well. The Rotary already has a strong presence in that area with the Spray Park and now the Rotary Clock, so it fits to have the rink in that location,” said Garbutt.
    The grass underneath the rink would be unharmed.
    The idea for the portable rink was introduced last winter by Darcy Thompson, who brought it to the Rotary Club’s attention. There had been discussion in a meeting of Town Council to have the rink in place last winter, but it found to be too late to begin construction. The project then waited until now.
    “We had to shelve the project for awhile, because we found out part way through the process the ground can’t be frozen during construction. We’re hoping everything gets down before the ground freezes,” said Garbutt.
    Should the weather remain warm in October, it is hoped the rink will be in place by the end of the month, ideally even earlier.
    “We’re hopeful once we’re ready, it won’t be more than 15 business days to delivery. Ideally it means the Town would have the pond assembled prior to the middle of October,” said Garbutt. “It’s small scale, but hopefully it’ll have a big impact. It’s one more great thing for people to do in Town. The club was very supportive of bringing a no cost to the public recreational activity to that area.”