By David F. Rooney
We all have people we look up to, respect and even idolize. For some they are parents, grandparents or siblings, for others they are men and women who have attempted to make a difference in the world.
Recently, The Revelstoke Current challenged boys and girls over age 10 to write essays about their personal heros. The kids in Sarah Newton’s Grade 5/6 class at Mount Begbie Elementary took up that challenge and, guided in part by a model essay Sarah wrote, sent 11 essays to The Current. All of the essays were pretty good and three of them were judged as being outstanding. Their authors — Malachi Martin, Hellana Oberle and Courtney Atkinson — were each presented with an official Rick Hansen medal produced by the Royal Canadian Mint.
All of the essays are reproduced here, starting with those written by Malachi, Hellana and Courtney.
Bob Marley
My hero is Bob Marley. He is my hero because he has very good music and tried as hard as he could to carry on his carrier and fight cancer at the same time. Bob Marley was born in 1945. Bob Marley started his carrier by jamming with his friends. So he is my hero.
There were a few famous reggae singers before Bob Marley like Dennis brown and Jacob Miller. Jacob Miller was very good friends with Bob Marley but he died in a car crash. Bob Marley was one of the first people to join Rastafarian movement. By then Bob Marley had about 100 songs by himself. Then he joined the Wailers. His most famous songs by him and the Wailers were Three Little Birds, One Love and I Shot the Sheriff. My favorite song by him is Concrete Jungle about two years after that he was known all around the world. He had a lot of concerts and he came to Canada once. At the time Zimbabwe was going through a hard time with their government so he wrote a song called Zimbabwe.
Bob Marley was diagnosed with cancer. The estimated time when he was going to die was at the age of 36. Bob Marley had over 150 songs by then. Bob Marley’s wife Rita Marley was one of the three females in the Wailers. Bob Marley was very good at soccer. Bob Marley had about 8 kids all of his boys were reggae singers. My favorite one of his kids was Damien Marley. In 1981 Bob was very, very sick. He had shaved all of his dreads off. On April 20 it was his birthday he was 36 years old. Sadly, on his birthday he passed away. 6,000 people showed up at his funeral.
Bob Marley is my hero because he made amazing music and he fought cancer and didn’t stop trying.
Malachi Martin
Grade 5
Mount Begbie Elementary
***
Terry Fox
Terry Fox is a Canadian hero. People all over Canada know about him. He had curly reddish-brown hair, and blue eyes. He had an amputated leg because he had cancer. I can’t imagine the pain of having cancer, but he could. He tried to run across Canada to raise money for cancer. He didn’t get all the way across Canada. Plus the money he was raising wasn’t even for himself, it was to help find a cure to cancer. He did it for other people. Once Terry was normal, then he got cancer.
Running across Canada was hard on Terry. I definitely wouldn’t be easy running with a leg made of metal. His run was called the Marathon of Hope. Terry fox got the idea to run a marathon for cancer, because the night before his right leg was amputated Terry read about an amputee who ran the New York City Marathon. This article inspired Terry so much he decided to do his Marathon of Hope. He started his marathon on April 12 1980 and ran every single day. Terry always had a friend driving behind him while he ran. His friend was with him through good times and tough. Terry’s friend was like a brother to him, they were best friends. They both lived in the motor home until terry had to go to a hospital because he was having trouble breathing. Terry got lung cancer. They had to take Terry away on September 1 1980 at Thunder Bay, Ontario, but before that he had some good times. Like when he dipped his artificial leg into the Atlantic Ocean. Terry died at the young age of 22. Terry ran to help others, he didn’t run for himself. Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope is still going on in the hearts of Canadian citizens everywhere.
I think everyone in Canada should know about Terry Fox, not only will it teach children about cancer, it will teach them to think of others, not only themselves. Also it will teach children to never give up, no matter what. The first time I heard of Terry Fox was in Kindergarten and he has been my hero ever since I first heard about him and did the Terry Fox run. Children and adults everywhere should know things like, Terry was a distance runner and loved playing basketball. Terry was and still is considered an awesome National hero. His full name is Terrance Stanley Fox, everyone called him Terry and we still call him Terry now. He was born on July 28 1958 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Sadly the cause of Terry’s death was Metastic, osteosacoma. Now since Terry’s death we have started doing Terry Fox runs each year to help raise money for cancer research.
Terry Fox was a great man. His death was very tragic. If he hadn’t have done the Marathon many people would be dead because of cancer. Terry is my hero. Terry will live on in the hearts and memories of many Canadians.
Courtney Atkinson
Grade 5
Mount Begbie Elementary
***
My Hero
My mom’s name is Christel. She has 3 children named Hellana (that’s me), Rebekka (that’s my sister), and Zander (that’s my 4 year old little brother). My mother has reddish yellow hair. She has lots of freckles just like me. Every one says I look just like her. My mom is 5 foot 6. We wear the same size of shoe.
My mom is my hero because she helped me when I got stuck in a snow pile trying to get my gloves that my sister threw. When she got me out of the snow we lost my boot when she finally found it I had fallen asleep. When we got inside I was rubbing my eyes my mom put me in my bedroom. My mom helps me whenever I need it.
My mom is now facing breast cancer. My mom has had breast cancer for a year the doctor said. My mother does not believe the doctor because she was not supposed to be able to get breast cancer. When my mom was younger she was not eating well. My first reaction was to start crying. I was two back then my mom said that she wasn’t hungry. But that’s not what it actually was she had breast cancer. This is the second time she has had breast cancer. My mom is the greatest hero I will ever have. My mom can survive if she survived once. My mom is a fighter she does not give up. My hero WILL SURVIVE. LET’S CHEER HER ON.
That’s the story of my hero who survived breast cancer. Who saved my life. Who doesn’t give up. Who will win against breast cancer, my mom.
Hellana Elisabeth Louise Oberle
Grade 5
Mount Begbie Elementary
***
My hero
My hero is Chelan Sabiston, my mom. I chose her because she volunteers for anything and she adopted 3 children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (F.A.S.D.). My Mom and Dad have 5 kids. We all live in Revelstoke.
My mom volunteers for anything when my dad is not at work so he can take care of us. My mom used to work with kids that had special needs. She worked with Community Connections for her job. She is also is in the school planning council. Sometimes she helps at the food bank and always buys stuff for the food bank. My Mom is only 36 and she has helped many people (including me) in her life.
My mom and dad adopted one 4 year old, one 3 year old, and one 1 year old and they all have F.A.S.D. My Mom stays home and takes care of us while my Dad works. My 4-year-old sister goes to pre-school because she wants to be like my older sister and me.
My mom is my hero because she adopted and she helps out with a lot of things and she helps me too. My mom always goes above and beyond. My mom is the best Mom ever.
Jette Sabiston
Grade 5
Mount Begbie Elementary
***
My Hero Essay
My heros are my parents. My dad inspired me to play hockey and my mom, she volunteers and helps around town. My parents and I used to live in Glendale, Arizona. My dad is the City Planner for Revelstoke and my mom just volunteers around town.
My dad first inspired me to play hockey at the age of three or four. Every week my dad took us to the arena to work on strides and turns and how to skate forwards and backwards. Right about 5 I started using a hockey stick and went to practices. We went to practices 2 times a week, from November to March. Then he taught me how to stick handle and skate with the puck. We never had any games cause most of the towns nearby didn’t have a hockey rink. When we moved to Revelstoke I learned more and finally got to face other teams. I can thank my dad for getting me a head start.
My mom inspired me to help and volunteer around town. My mom helps with the multicultural society, rep soccer, MBE elementary and more stuff I cant even name. When we were in Washington my mom was an urban planner. My mom is my hero because she takes her time to volunteer for others.
My dad is my hero because he helped me get a head start on hockey and my mom helps and volunteers around town. My mom helped me become a better person because I now volunteer around town. I am so lucky to have great parents.
Caleb Guenther
Grade 5
Mount Begbie Elementary
***
My Hero
My hero is Jack Adam, my grandpa who has been there for me since I was born. My grandpa’s my hero because he has always been one of the bravest individual I knew and because he always made me have fun and laugh. My grandpa always made me smile even on the worst days.
My grandpa always made me laugh and have fun and the confidence he had in me when I said I couldn’t do it made me think that I could do it. He used to sing me a song when I came to visit him that made me feel pretty. All the stories I heard about him made me laugh all the stories he told me. When he used to sing to me and I would sing along he taught me the song Puff The Magic Dragon. We used to go for hikes by his house. The fact is that when he was sick he tried to get better soon to go back to work. He would take us boating and when we went camping he got me a walking stick that I still use to this day. I love my grandpa and I always had fun around him and laughed.
My grandpa is the bravest person I knew because he would always take the hard way, he was the kind of person that if you could go around a stream he would go over it. My grandpa is also one of the bravest people I knew because he was one of the victims of cancer. One day he became sick and didn’t know why, so the doctors did some tests and said that he had cancer. That was the first time in all the time I’ve known him that he looked sad. Within 1 week he was in the hospital unable to talk. He always wanted me to one day go hunting with him when I got my licence, and that summer I got it. I took him the results I got from the mail that was the only time I saw happiness in his eyes while he was at that hospital. The man I knew as always smiling found it hurt for him to smile. He returned to the Revelstoke hospital and when he got there the next morning on July 1, 2011, my hero was gone.
My grandpa, my hero made me a better person by showing me that sometimes you can be carefree and have fun and laugh. The most important thing he taught me was that even if you’re scared to death about something, to face your fears and try to overcome it and be brave like he did. I will never forget my hero, Jack Adam, Grandpa Jack he will always be with me and I will never forget what he taught me.
Emalyn Adam
Grade 5
Mount Begbie Elementary
***
My hero
My hero is Ruth Ive, I have never called her that though. I always just call her Nanny; she is the most wonderful, selfless woman I have ever met. She is facing breast cancer for the third time, I can’t believe how brave she is in the face of such dangerous illness, and she is also going blind! She’s also brave because she lived through World War II! When Nanny was young she raised 6 children. Leona, Doris, Maureen, Colleen, Jean, and Ron. She recently turned 90 years old, born on March 30, 1922.
My Nanny is definitely the most selfless person I know. At Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter she always used to cook and bust her behind for the whole family to eat by 7:00. When we go to visit we offer to get her food, pills, glass of water, and even though she can’t see very well what she’s doing she always wants to get it her self, if we try to get her food, she says “ no, no get your own I’ll eat last.” When I was just a little girl she’d always look after me when my mom went to the store. My mom would offer to take me with her but Nanny insisted to leave me with her. All in all she is the most selfless person I know.
If you were comparing bravery with my Nanny she’d win. Here are a few reasons why she’s brave: she has won the fight against breast cancer and pneumonia.
She also survived WWII; I can only imagine what that was like. Her mother’s life must have been so hard, as there were no rights for women, in Canada. When my grandpa died in 2006 she was probably braver than all of us in one mushy ball.
She really is the bravest woman I know.
That is the story of my Nanny, I hope you enjoyed my essay on her who is both brave and selfless. She is wonderful, she is a fighter, she will survive, she will beat cancer, she is my hero!!!!!
Anna Kampman
Grade 5
Mount Begbie Elementary
***
Roger Echlin — my hero
I’m going to tell you about my hero my dad. Not just because he’s my dad. its because he helps people on his own time and risks his life to save people in a fire he’s a fire fighter.
My dad is a hero to me because he risks his life. He helps people he dosn’t need to help. On his own time. One memory I have of my dad is a story about when he went in to a fire. There was a cat trapped in some burning wood. He moved the wood. He got burned but he got the cat. He did that just for a cat. That is how my dad is a hero to me in his job.
My dad is a hero also because he helps people that he barely knows, like one time he helped these people that had trouble with their lawn mower. My dad got out said “ya need help?” He fixed it, got back in his car and drove away.
So now you see how my dad is a hero to me. He inspires me to help others and do every thing you can. I just told you two memories of how my dad is a hero to me. I have a lot more.
John Echlin
Grade 5
Mount Begbie Elementary
***
My hero
For my hero I choose someone who’s willing enough to have pain for me and that is my grandma. My grandma is not really old. Her name is Nancy. She lives in Revelstoke.
My hero is my grandma cause she has horrible feet but whenever she walks she’s in terrible pain but she does it anyway. She does everything for me like putting me to sleep and getting me my food and water even though I tell her to go to bed cause she’s always sick but she does everything for me anyway. She’ll do dishes even when she knows my mom and my auntie are there, she’s like, “No, I’ll do them.”
She is very funny and creative. She is very nice and awesome. I love her so much. She is gentle, kind and caring. She never yells and never screams. She helps everyone in the house. She cleans the house sometimes. She also cleans the cage for my guinea pig every day. If were being loud she’ll be like, “Can you please be quiet?” She is the nicest person on the earth. She asks for a hug every day. She loves me and I love her. She is always like, “How was your day? And was your day nice?”
I am so glad that I live and I’m related to her. I want to visit her every day. I love her so much.
Tyson Howe
Grade 6
Mount Begbie Elementary
***
Editor’s Note:
The following essay was written by teacher Sarah Newton as an example for her students to follow. I thought it was a lovely paen to her grandmother.
My hero, Nonna
My hero is Innes Pennacchietti, my Nonna, my beloved Italian grandmother. She didn’t speak more than 50 words of English but she is my hero and inspires me every day. Her work ethic and gratitude for all she had in life left an indelible mark on me. My Nonna lived to be over 100 years old, raised 7 children while my Nanno was left in a wheelchair after a railroad accident. He succumbed to his injuries when their youngest child was only three. Nonna lived in Southern Ontario and raised her children singlehandedly during World War II, no easy feat for a young Italian woman without any hirable skills.
Nonna’s work ethic could be placed on the shelf with so many other immigrant stories. When her husband was unable to work because of his injuries Nonna canned, pickled, dried, smoked, and gardened until she literally dropped into bed each night. She worked each day to create food from the garden. As well she took in laundry from wealthy women in the community. On top of this work, her husband and the children took in piecework from the local safety pin factory. Yes, the stuff of legends. My Nonna broke her back in the garden, worked her hands raw with other people’s dirty laundry, and then went almost blind putting safety pins on cardboard backings into the wee hours of each night. Of course Nonna never complained nor lamented the work she had to do. She simply did it and was grateful that there were ways of making ends meet. How can I complain about assignments to mark or lessons to prepare when this woman was the definition of selfless?
Even though my Nonna had an extremely tough life, she never complained. She even commented that without Mussolini she never would have gone to school. She said that he built the first school in her village and she loved learning, all thanks to him. At grace each night we bowed our heads and after thanking God, she would belt out “God Bless Canada and “God Bless Trudeau”. Why Trudeau? She felt he allowed her to become a citizen of Canada, a country of infinite opportunity. Two of her children had to quit high school to work at the safety pin factory, my Nonna was grateful that there was a safety pin factory to employ them. Talk about looking at the glass as half full! My Nonna was grateful for the health of her family, for the fact that her husband saw angels before he died, and that she had been able to immigrate to Canada.
When reflecting on who my hero is, I realized that the true heroes in life are those who overcome the grinding everyday existence to do miraculous things, things out of the ordinary. My Nonna was exactly that. Without help, praise, or fame, she did the truly courageous- she got up each morning with a smile, raised her seven wonderful children, and survived with zest and love. She is my hero and worthy of being the protagonist in so many bedtime stories.
