Students Raise $285K, Win Visit from Connor McDavid

The roar that filled Allendale School's gym this week wasn't for a playoff goal. It was for something bigger: students proving that kids helping kids can change the world.

Allendale School competed against 50 schools across Canada in the Ben Stelter School Fundraiser, a challenge where students earned ballots by raising money for pediatric cancer support. The prize? A personal visit from Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid.

When the fundraiser ended, all participating schools had collectively raised over $285,000. Allendale's contribution wasn't the largest in dollars, but their creativity and heart made them winners.

Students organized Friday pizza sales, ran a jersey raffle, and turned their gym into an entertainment arena where six teachers and a volunteer got pies thrown in their faces. The pie event alone brought the entire school together in a moment of pure joy and purpose.

Student leader Moossa Choulli captured the surprise when they learned they'd won. "We were so surprised to win it. But, we were so happy as soon as we got it."

Atharv Keshri, another student organizer, described the atmosphere during the pie throwing event. "Everyone was watching, yelling after each pie was thrown. It was an awesome experience."

That same electric energy filled the gym Tuesday when McDavid walked in to meet nearly 600 cheering students. But the hockey star quickly shifted the focus away from himself and back to where it belonged.

"Kids helping kids, it's a special thing," McDavid told the assembly. "I hope the kids take away the power of community and what together we can all do to help one another."

He went further, reframing what the real prize actually was. "The prize really is how many people that this money is going to help, and all the families that will get support. If I can be the little cherry on top for some of these schools and some of these kids, then that's great."

The Ripple Effect

The funds raised will support efforts to bring proton therapy to Canada, an advanced cancer treatment that could transform care for children battling the disease. This goal connects directly to the legacy of Ben Stelter, the young Oilers superfan whose courage and spirit continue inspiring communities across the country.

What happened at Allendale goes beyond one school winning a contest. It shows what young people can accomplish when they believe they can make a real difference and work together to prove it.

The students learned that fundraising doesn't have to be boring, that teachers are good sports, and that their actions today can save lives tomorrow. When McDavid left the gym, the cheers followed him out, but the lesson stayed behind: community isn't just about being together, it's about doing good together.