Sara Stanley has always wanted to throw a mini concert à la Live Aid on a much smaller scale, a musical extravaganza to raise money for one of her many causes.
“I have so many contacts through theatre and through school who are musicians,” says the Grade 12 student at Garibaldi secondary.
“That’s why it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while.”
An avid volunteer, Stanley had a slew of causes to chose from so picking one was a little bit of a hassle.
She finally whittled it down last year, motivated by a classmate’s battle with cancer.
Stanley followed Kieran McGhie on the photo-sharing app Instagram as she documented her struggle with the disease and her stay in B.C. Children’s Hospital.
“I saw that and really wanted to help in some way,” says Stanley, who hosts her Rock The Ridge concert for B.C. Children’s Hospital on Thursday.
“You often hear about what people who have cancer go through, but to see pictures of someone you know and someone you see in the hallway each day, it was very eye-opening.”
Rock The Ridge has been months in the making.
Stanley began contacting musicians in June, booked her school theatre and has mustered up a troop of 30 students who are helping behind the scenes with sound, lighting, setting up the venue and working as ushers.
Finding people to perform and help out wasn’t hard, she says.
“It seems that everybody knows someone who has been affected by B.C. Children’s Hospital.”
Two performers - Fletcher Allard and Cecilia Ferreira - have been going to B.C. Children’s Hospital since they were toddlers.
“When I booked them, I did not even know they had this connection to the hospital,” Stanley says.
Ferreira, who was Miss Teen Burnaby last year, is thrilled to be part of Stanley’s fundraiser.
The 20-year-old Simon Fraser University student was born with a congenital heart defect. She knows first hand the exceptional care B.C. Children’s Hospital delivers.
“I’ve had the opportunity to see what B.C. Children’s Hospital is like through the eyes of a patient,” says Ferreira, an aspiring singer-songwriter.
Now Ferreira has the opportunity to give back.
“It’s really important that you can experience it both ways, if you can.”
Like Stanley, Ferreira enjoys volunteering.
“I can’t get enough of it,” she says, with a laugh.
“I think giving back to the community is a huge aspect of being a well-rounded person. There’s a time and place for hanging out with your friends or partying. I just really find happiness in giving people happiness and helping out.”
Rock The Ridge hopes to raise at least $1,000 for B.C. Children’s Hospital’s expansion, $2,000 would be even better.
Showtime
• Rock The Ridge takes place at Garibaldi Secondary School on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for students and $12 for adults. The event will feature seven acts including:
• Fletcher Allard & Haley
• Cecilia Ferreira
• Northern Rain
• Ami Owens
The event is being emceed by Ria Jade & Josh Nicholas. If you can't attend the event, pledge a donation to Rock The Ridge via Facebook.