When most children manage to save up some money, they usually want to spend it on items like toys, candy or video games.
However, eight-year-old Max Chequis had a different idea. He wanted to give his money away, to help sick kids.
On Saturday, a small contingent of riders from the Cops For Cancer cycling campaign stopped by Max’s house to pick up that donation.
His mother, Jessie, couldn’t be more proud.
Max first began collecting money when his grandmother told him that if you filled a one litre bottle with dimes, you would raise about $450.
“Over the year we collected dimes and managed to almost fill it up,” she explained.
When they counted it out, it was actually $215 worth of dimes.
“My mom asked him what he wanted to do with it, thinking he wold buy a video game or something, but he said he wanted to donate it,” said Jessie
She was equally shocked, amazed and proud that her son wanted to give his money away.
Max wanted to donate the money to people who were sick and Cops For Cancer seemed the perfect fit.
But Max wasn’t finished. Last week he set up a lemonade stand in the neighbourhood to collect more donations. Word began to spread on social media and donations poured in.
His one day lemonade venture raised an additional $517, increasing his total donation to $732.
Max said there was a simple reason that he donated the money.
“I decided to bring them (dimes) to Cops for Cancer. I don’t like kids to have cancer and be really sick,” said Max, adding that he thinks all kids his age should help raise money.
When his friends heard about Max’s kind act, they were supportive.
“They said ‘Great job Max you probably did a lot of hard work’ and my family and my whole school knows about it.”
Aaron Billesberger, a sixth year rider with Cops for Cancer Tour de Valley, along with Mission assistant fire chief Norm MacLeod and Mission RCMP Cont. James Mason met up with Max to collect his donation.
Billesberger said children have helped raise money before, but he called Max’s actions inspiring.
“It’s an amazing feat that he raised this much money,” said Billesberger.
“What Max is doing is exactly what we are hoping for, to inspire more youth to get involved and really be leaders in the community.
During the presentation, Sue Hunt, who runs the a Mission Giving Back group, made a donation on Max’s behalf, bringing his total to an even $1,000.
The Canadian Cancer Society Cops for Cancer Tour de Valley helps fund pediatric cancer research and support programs for children with cancer such as Camp Goodtimes in Maple Ridge.
This is the 20th anniversary of Cops For Cancer in B.C.
