Red Deer high school students come together to help classmate fighting cancer

Students at Red Deer's Ecole Secondaire Notre Dame High School have rallied together to support a classmate, Lachlan Ross, who is bravely battling a rare bone cancer. Lachlan, a Grade 11 student in the school's Foundations program, faces significant medical challenges following his diagnosis of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma.

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He’s a party. He loves to be with people and laugh; he has a great sense of humour. He just brings light.

Lachlan, who has complex medical needs from birth, is known for his vibrant personality and love of laughter. Despite being unable to communicate verbally, his teacher, Alison Snow, describes him as "a party" who "brings light." This year, his treatment has required him to miss considerable time at school.

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They will hopefully be able to salvage his limb. If not, he will be getting an amputation, and we’re just hoping the chemotherapy can really get rid of the cancer.

His mother, Colette Ross, shared the heartbreaking reality of Lachlan's fight, which includes six months of chemotherapy and possible surgery. "Watching him go through all these challenges is heartbreaking," she said, "But seeing his smile, and that he’s so strong and brave through all of this makes it so much better."

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Watching him go through all these challenges is heartbreaking. But seeing his smile, and that he’s so strong and brave through all of this makes it so much better.

Inspired by Lachlan's resilience, his classmates, led by Grade 11 student Addison Bradley, launched "Loonies for Lachlan." This initiative involved various activities, including a hat day, hair tinsel, face tattoos, and bubble gum sales, with all proceeds directed to the Ross family. Additionally, funds from the student-led coffee cart were also donated. The campaign successfully raised $2,000, which will contribute towards the purchase of a wheelchair-accessible van, a crucial need for transporting Lachlan to his treatments in Calgary. The family is also seeking a used van, with the total cost potentially reaching $100,000.

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We wanted to get the school involved. To show our support for Lachlan, to show that we love Lachlan and we want him to get better.