Highlands third-grader inspires generosity

A North Vancouver boy has helped to raise thousands of dollars for cancer and a local children's hospice.

Logan Mortensen, 8, decided to raise money for cancer after his grandfather was diagnosed. The Grade 3 Highlands elementary student told his family he wanted to shave his head to help raise money for cancer, much to the dismay of his parents, Sheida and Randy.

"I just said 'where did you get that idea from?'" says Sheida. "I didn't want to discourage him. I started thinking what a big thing this could be but I still didn't know how much."

Sheida, a cosmetics manager at Shoppers Drug Mart, pitched the idea to her co-workers during a meeting at head office for the store's own fundraising campaign. Sheida asked if they could combine Logan's efforts with the store's campaign.

"It started from that," she says, adding that it got bigger and bigger as they went along.

Logan went from door to door in his Edgemont neighbourhood with a collection box, asking people to donate to the cause.

"He came home, the box was full. He was so excited, he put it all on the kitchen floor and started counting," says Sheida. "Every day that he had play dates, he came (home) with a little change," which he kept separate.

The combined money that Logan and the store raised totalled more than $3,100 and will go to Look Good Feel Better, a national charitable program that presents workshops to cancer patients to help them manage the appearancerelated side effects of cancer treatment. Money that Logan received after the store campaign's completion, totalling around $600, will be donated to Canuck Place.

"I was in tears, we were so proud," says Sheida of the funds raised. "When we talked about it, I knew it was so innocent and it came from him, but I didn't expect this at all."

Logan was presented with a plaque from Shoppers Drug Mart on Dec. 7. The youngster plans to present a cheque to Canuck Place within the next few weeks.