MANITOUWADGE, ON – April 29th & 30th, 24 students from Manitouwadge High School participated in the MHS 30-Hour Famine for World Vision organized by their peers, students Tessa Lanteigne and Erin Baisch.  The girls had held a bake sale the week prior to boost funds raised by participants who were required to have a minimum of $20 in pledges to participate. 

 

Board games, video games, movies and more helped passed the time and distract from their hunger as one stipulation of the famine was that the students have only juice and rice, the most eaten in fact was 3 small servings (about a cup and a half) of rice without butter or any other condiments.  As an extra incentive to inspire their peers, Lanteigne and Baisch, neither of which had ever been coiffed with such bold, radical hair colours, had committed to dyeing their hair if funds raised surpassed $1000.  Baisch wound up with a headful of bright blue locks while Lanteigne had 1/ 2 her long, brown hair head dyed bright pink – each after first bleaching out their tresses a few days prior to the actual over-night event. The dye jobs, courtesy of Lanteigne’s mother, were just one more fun event during the 30 hour overnight event which took place at the high school. 

 

By Saturday evening at 10pm when the fundraiser wrapped up, 21 students remained, along with a half dozen parents and teachers, several of which also fasted in support of the teens. 

MORE INFO

• Read about the Hungry Bake Sale which preceeded the famine and added to funds raised
• Learn more about why Lanteigne launched this initiative & watch her interview.
• Learn how you can help with the MHS 30-hour Famine or find a student to sponsor at the Facebook event page
• Visit World Vision Canada’s 30-hour Famine information website
• Learn more about public education in Northwestern Ontario at the Superior-Greenstone District School Board website