Past École Puntledge Park student Ava Caldwell, is riding her bike more than 250 kilometres over five days to help a friend.
The 10-year-old and her family now live in Pemberton and she’s riding her bike from her new home there, back to Courtenay, in an effort to raise funds for Courtenay’s Ruby Poirier and her family — as Poirier is in hospital in Vancouver receiving treatment for leukemia.
Poirier and Caldwell have been friends since kindergarten. Poirier fought leukemia when she was six. After years of remission, it returned late last year, shortly before Caldwell and her family moved to Pemberton.
“One of my best friends, Ruby has leukemia, again,” Caldwell posted on her blog earlier this month. “I wanted to do something to help her and to show her I care and miss her…I’m hoping this (bike ride) will raise money to help Ruby and her family.”
Caldwell will be greeted by her and Poirier’s class from Puntledge school Monday in Royston and the whole group will ride the remainder of the journey to Courtenay.
As of Friday, Caldwell raised about $2,000 for the Poirier family. Anyone wishing to donate or track Caldwell’s journey, can visit www.ridingforuby.blogspot.ca.
