Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise in the House today to share with members the story of a remarkable grade 7 student from the Peterborough riding.
Two years ago, Faith Dickinson decided she wanted to make a difference in the lives of others. She thought everyone deserved to feel warmth, comfort, and love, especially those battling cancer.
At only nine years old, Faith started her own non-profit organization, called Cuddles for Cancer. Since then, she has remarkably raised more than $15,000 and delivered more than 700 cuddles blankets to cancer patients across Canada and beyond.
Faith has also been named an outstanding Ontario junior citizen and received the Peterborough County Award of Recognition, as well as being selected as one of Build-A-Bear's global finalists making a positive impact on their community and the world.
This is a young woman who is enacting change in helping others. Now she is challenging all of us to do the same. The compassion and ambition Faith demonstrates is something to be admired.
Later this week, in Peterborough, I will be joining Faith to announce her challenge formally and to discuss ways we can all get involved.
Let us all join with Faith in making a difference in the lives of others.