St. Theresa Catholic School rallies in support of teacher with $6,000 donation to cancer rehab program

St. Theresa Catholic School students stand with teacher Kurt Davison (center) and ACE program director Margie McNeely, proudly donating $6,000 to the cancer rehabilitation program that supports their teacher.

“The Cross Cancer Institute saved my life — but the ACE program gave it back to me.”

That’s how Kurt Davison, a local school teacher recently treated for lymphoma, describes his recovery journey. After six months of intense chemotherapy, 80 days in and out of the hospital, and a dramatic 70-pound weight loss, Davison arrived at the Alberta Cancer Exercise (ACE) program weak, unsteady and unsure of what came next.

Now, thanks to the careful tracking, steady guidance and whole-person care from ACE staff, he’s rebuilding his strength — aiming not just to return to work, but to do it at “110 per cent.”

“ACE helped me regain the strength and confidence to consider going back to start thinking about returning to work, getting back on my bike, hiking and playing sports again,” says Davison.

In a heartfelt show of community spirit, students and staff at St. Theresa Catholic School raised $6,000 for the ACE program at the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine — all in honour of their teacher, Davison.

Inspired by his strength and positivity, the entire school came together to support both their teacher and the program helping him heal by organizing and participating in fundraisers throughout the school year.

The fundraising efforts, led by the school’s Grade 7 and 8 leadership classes, quickly evolved to creative fundraising initiatives involving the entire school. The leadership classes organized a school and parent coffee shop, the Grade 6 class hosted a business fair, and the Sport for Life program donated proceeds from their annual Student vs. Teacher Hawks Hockey Challenge to ACE. The success of the initiative reflected the dedication and compassion of the students and staff alike.

“We are incredibly grateful to the students and staff at St. Theresa School for their heartfelt donation and commitment to supporting the Alberta Cancer Exercise program,” says Margie McNeely, principal investigator of the Alberta-wide ACE study, professor in the Department of Physical Therapy in the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine and director of the Cancer Rehabilitation Clinic. “Their dedication to fundraising not only supports cancer survivors in regaining strength, but also shows the powerful impact young leaders can have on their communities.”

As part of their effort, the leadership students visited the ACE program site at the U of A to see in person how their donation would make a difference. They met with Davison and McNeely and spoke with program staff to learn how ACE supports people with cancer by helping them build strength, confidence and resilience through tailored exercise programming.

“I wanted the students to see firsthand where their fundraising efforts are going,” says Davison. “They worked so hard and did so many great things to raise this money. By visiting the ACE program, they could see the real impact their support has — not just for me, but for so many others going through cancer recovery. Their efforts truly make a difference.”

The funds raised will go directly to supporting ACE’s work, which continues to play a vital role in helping individuals with cancer maintain quality of life during and after treatment. ACE is a free 12-week community-based exercise program that is designed specifically for individuals undergoing or recovering from cancer treatment.