Erin Pelé, a Grade 10 student at Charles Spencer High School is this year's winner of a national award.  

The Stacey Levitt Memorial Award was created in memory and celebration of Stacey’s life by her family through the organization Parachute and honours a student who embodies Stacey’s qualities and ideals. They receive $2,500 to help them live their life to the fullest. 

Erin was diagnosed in fall 2018 with leukemia and has since made it her mission to educate and to fundraise for childhood cancer research, sharing her journey with local elementary schools. 

Dawna Baird, an academic advisor at her school says that Erin, despite undergoing intensive chemotherapy, “never asks, ‘Why me?’ Instead, she asks the question, ‘What can I do to make this better?’”  

Erin has maintained a 91% grade average even while missing 40% of her grade 9 classes due to cancer treatments.  

Kids for Cancer fundraiser, Terry Fox Run, Stollery Hospital and Maverick Movement Club for social justice projects are some of the organizations she has volunteered with.  

Ned Levitt, former board director of Parachute, and father to the late Stacey Levitt, said, “We were struck by Erin’s courage and tenacity in battling cancer while at the same time working to be a role model for others. During this terrible pandemic, the world needs more people like Erin.” 

For more information about the award, click HERE.