Yesterday was National Philanthropy Day, a day to celebrate volunteerism, giving and charitable engagement in our communities.
I thought about the young philanthropist I encountered at the Regina Farmers’ Market on a Saturday in early September.
I heard the cellist before I saw her.
The pleasant sounds emanating from her instrument caught my attention when I arrived at the farmers’ market.
The musician was sitting on a chair in the space between the Regina Public Library’s pop-up store and the bike stand.
The music stand in front of her stood atop a sign that read: “All proceeds go to Toonies for Terry Cancer Research Fundraiser at St. Pius School.”
I assumed the sign referred to The Terry Fox Foundation, which schoolchildren across Canada support every year with fundraising activities in the weeks and days leading up to the Foundation’s annual Terry Fox Run.
I placed money in the jar that sat on the sign. Other people had placed coins and bills inside the jar before me.
The girl’s mother, who stood nearby holding sheet music in her hands, told me her daughter has been playing the cello for five years.
Before that day, the St. Pius School student had only appeared in recitals. She had planned to perform a couple of songs at the farmers’ market but decided to keep playing.
She was fearless, never missing a beat.
The people who stopped to listen to the cellist, who placed donations in the money jar, who took pictures and videos did not distract her.
The girl’s eyes were fixed on the sheet music in front of her as the fingers on her left hand moved along the neck of the cello and her right hand guided the bow back and forth.
She wore a yellow T-shirt, black leggings and running shoes. A headband kept her hair off her face.
I don’t know what connection she has to cancer. I didn’t ask.
Did she share her talent that day in honour of a family member who faced cancer? In memory of a loved one who lost a cancer battle? For a friend? A teacher? The parent of a friend?
Whatever the reason, the girl was doing something she hoped would make a difference in cancer research and in the lives of people dealing with cancer.
Well done, young lady.
Relishing the View 