CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C. – Sylas Thompson ran into the cold water to start his fundraising campaign on Friday afternoon.
The 11-year-old aims to raise $30, 000 for the Campbell River Women’s Resource Centre and Grassroots, Kind Hearts. Both are charitable organizations in the city that help vulnerable members of the community.
Sylas hopes to give each organization $15, 000.
Sheryl Thompson, Sylas’ grandmother, set up a GoFundMe page for the donations. So far, Sylas has raised around $1, 200, which he said was exciting.
“I’m just pretty excited, just with all the people watching. I feel good. I’m just ready to go in (to swim),” Sylas said. He added that he hopes to raise the funds in a month and a half to two months’ time.
His grandmother Sheryl, however, thinks otherwise.
“I’m thinking one month. But we’ll do what it takes. I like his idea, he said ‘I’m just not going to stop!’,” she said.
Sheryl said it was lovely to see her grandson’s determination and his willingness to help others around him. She said it was reflective of her late son Jake Hebenton, who did polar bear swims to raise money for Campbell River’s food bank at the same spot Sylas is swimming at.
“I’m somewhat reliving my son’s day but Sylas, he’s doing such an awesome job and I’m getting to know him a lot better and realizing what an awesome spirit he has.”
Sheryl said that even though they have a goal, she hopes they can fundraise more for the two organizations.
“It will draw attention to the needs of our community. I also hope that other children will see what he and they are capable of doing. Don’t set limits on yourself. Aim for the stars, and if you fall on the moon, that’s good too.”
To donate to Sylas’ cause, visit his GoFundMe page through this link.
