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Cochrane Christian Academy student raises money through pop can tabs

Rather than raise funds through conventional means, eight-year-old Cochrane Christian Academy student Rider Degraw is asking anyone who likes to crack open a can of pop to donate their tabs to help him raise money to donate a pair of wheelchairs.
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Cochrane Christian Academy student Rider Degraw has collected 56,850 pop can tabs as part of his 'YYC Your Name, Your Cause Challenge' fundraiser.

A Grade 3 student at Cochrane Christian Academy (CCA), is working hard to raise money for a good cause this winter.

But rather than raise funds through conventional means, he is asking anyone who likes to crack open a can of pop to give him their tabs to help him raise money to donate a pair of wheelchairs.

Eight-year-old Rider Degraw has embarked on a mission to collect as many pop can tabs as possible until Feb. 13, with tabs he collects heading towards raising funds for March of Dimes Canada.

His fundraiser, named by his father Andy Degraw, as The YYC Your Name, Your Cause Challenge, started almost a year ago in the summer of 2022, after attending a slo-pitch tournament.

“It started at a baseball game last year, and we just started collecting them,” Degraw said.

According to the calculations done by his collection team (primarily his dad), approximately 12.67 pop tabs contain the equivalent of one pound of aluminum. At the time of calculations, if it were to be converted to scrap metal, one pound of aluminum equals 15 cents.

Despite seeming like an impossible task for someone his age, Degraw’s ever-growing number of tabs has already amounted 56,850.

“We go around every Monday to collect and then weigh them,” he explained.

With his deadline of Feb. 13 fast approaching, he hopes to collect 100,000 pop tabs in total. Although he is uncertain about how much the wheelchairs cost, he hopes to raise enough money to purchase at least two of them.

“[The wheelchairs] are going to kids that need them,” Degraw said.

On Feb. 3, Degraw mentioned how a sizable contribution was recently brought to him. He said a large Pringle can full of pop-can tabs was presented to him.

In addition to Degraw's efforts, 15 other classes from kindergarten to Grade 8 at CCA are all contributing to the cause.

As a student leader raising money for a noble cause, all Degraw said about the fundraiser is that it feels good to be able to give back.

Degraw hopes through this initiative, other institutions that are part of the Rocky View Schools (RVS) division will follow his example.

“We want all the schools in Rocky View to pick a cause they support,” Degraw said.

In the future, he said his next cause would ideally be to help raise money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation over the next school year.

CCA child development advisor Michelle Kachur, added that faculty encourages all students to talk about ways they can potentially contribute to these types of Good Samaritan initiatives, no matter how big or small.

“You’re never too young to make a difference,” Kachur said.

Degraw said any local pop-drinkers or anyone else who is interested in helping him reach his goal can drop off their tabs at the CCA office and he can add it to his growing total.

In regards to any inquiries or questions for members of the Cochrane community and surrounding area, please direct any inquiries to Kachur via email at [email protected] or by calling 403-932-5177.


Daniel Gonzalez

About the Author: Daniel Gonzalez

Daniel Gonzalez joined the Cochrane Eagle in 2022. He is a graduate of the Mount Royal University Journalism program. He has worked for the Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta and as a reporter in rural Alberta for the ECA Review.
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