Starvathon 2006

Denis Morris High School, St. Catharines, Ontario
An experience of solidarity

By Katie Griffiths
Summer 2006

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The Denis Morris Starvathon is known as one of the strongest, most successful and most enjoyable fundraisers at any high school in the Niagara Region. I am a Grade 12 student and this is my third Starvathon. As always it was a fabulous experience. This year’s event was especially moving for me because I am not only helping to support these causes, but I will have the chance to meet the people and experience their lives and struggles firsthand.

Several determined and motivated students like myself will be traveling this summer with Mr. Paul McGuire, the Denis Morris Chaplain, to the Amazon region of Brazil. A portion of the funds raised in the Starvathon is going to aid the Dom Jorge Association, an organization dedicated to helping street children in Brazil. We will be spending two weeks living in solidarity with the people of this developing area.

The idea of solidarity is always a large part of Starvathon. It's not enough to give money to a faceless charity; it is important to experience, even just for a moment, a fraction of the suffering that millions of people face every day. Living in solidarity with those less fortunate than us is the motivation for going without food during Starvathon. For me, solidarity is one of the things that makes Starvathon such a motivating and memorable experience year after year. I know that every penny we earn is going to help improve the lives of other people and I am very proud and honoured to have been a part of this amazing tradition at Denis Morris.∞

Editor’s note: Paul McGuire, chaplain at Denis Morris High School and former Scarboro lay missioner, will be taking a group of students to Itacoatiara, Brazil, for a cross cultural experience and to visit the Dom Jorge Association, named after Scarboro missioner Bishop George “Dom Jorge” Marskell. See story “Like the Bishop of Digne”


Responding to the needs of others

By Amanda Niessen

In March, more than 300 people—staff and students—from Denis Morris High School gathered to participate in this year’s Starvathon. Everyone becomes enthused when it comes time for Starvathon. “Go blonde for Starvathon!” says Carlee Granitto.

For more than three decades Denis Morris has organized the Starvathon event to raise money and awareness for various charities in Haiti, Guatemala, Peru and Brazil. This year, Starvathon raised approximately $15,000. The need for support is greater than ever. The needs of our own local charities are also increasing. We continue to support St. Vincent de Paul, RAFT (Resource Association for Teens), the Niagara Sexual Assault Centre and many more.

The focus this year was on justice, peace and development. The day began with an assembly where we learned about the various charities we were raising money for. We then took part in informative seminars and meaningful prayer services.

We were very fortunate to have 16-year-old Julie Mannell visit our school to talk about her experience in an AIDS ward in Thailand and caring for India’s poorest children. After all that she has done, Julie still wants to do more. Participants also wrote letters to the children at Ecole Immaculee Conception, the project we are supporting in Haiti.

After all the serious stuff was done, it was time to have fun. There was a video dance in the cafeteria, salsa dancing in the front foyer, and a basketball game in the gym, all this excitement lasting until 11:00 pm.

Photos:

  • After fasting for the day, students partake in a bread meal to experience solidarity with the poor.
  • Listening to a Gospel story during another prayer service.
  • Diana Franco teaches Salsa dancing to students as part of the starvathon fun.
  • L-R: Jenn Green, Paul Marchionda, Mike Forgione, Paul Semeniuk, Luke VanMoerke ham it up for the camera.
  • Staff and students dye their hair for the cause. L-R back row: Teachers Dino Petruzzi, Dave Drago, Mike Pietrangelo, Steve Fasulo, Principal Maurice Charbonneau and Bob Jarret. Front row: Students Tim Burnett, Jeff Caron and Chris Costif.
  • Grade 9 student Nolan Goering reflects during a prayer service.

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