142 SQN Air Cadets Go To France
Donation protected
142 Mimico 'Determination' Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Cadets, is a part of a national programme for youth aged 12 to 18 years. Air Cadets learn citizenship, self discipline, leadership, physical fitness and an appreciation of flying and all things aerospace.
An opportunity to learn the history of our great nation while discovering other cultures and ways of life is also an important segment of the Air Cadet programme, and supplements the regular training through recreational, cultural and educational trips to various communities from time to time.
In 2017, the Air Cadets of 142 have set a goal to travel to France to tour the Normandy region, remembering those brave Canadians who fought two World Wars, paying tribute at Commonwealth Cemeteries, visiting battlefields of significance to Canada.
With 2017 being the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, our goal is to send 50 members of the Squadron (40 youth, 10 adults) to France and Belgium for 11 days, visiting Beaumont-Hamel, Vimy Ridge, Flanders and Menin as an educational pilgrimage. For many of these young men and women, this may be a trip of a lifetime.
While an opportunity like this can be an important piece of any youth development programme, it is not a "funded activity" within the Cadet programme, thus various fundraising activities have to be undertaken to allow these youth members an opportunity to participate, including this "Go Fund Me" campaign. Our overall goal is to raise as much of the total cost of $100,000.00 CAD, to offset the amount that each participant has to pay. Over the last year we have raised $15,000.00 towards this goal, but as you can see we are a long way from reaching it. Of course, we are not waiting for this campaign to take care of it all - although that would be wonderful - we will continue to work towards this lofty goal throughout the year with car washes, bake sales and community dances at our local Royal Canadian Legion.
Of course, it is not a free ride for anyone, as all participants - and their families - have to pay their way towards the cost of the trip, which is approximately $2,000.00 per person. We hope to reduce this amount through this campaign, your generousity, and our car washes! And, just so you know, this trip is being conducted cheaply as possible, staying at government hostels - not hotels, and enjoying simple meals within the local community - not fancy restaurants. This gives the Cadets a sense of the community that they are in, and it is not only an amazing experience for the Cadets, it is good for the community too! Lastly, we are fortunate that our "guides" are Officers from within the Squadron who have experience in similar trips and have volunteered thier time, taking personal vacation and time from their families and work to lead the group.
Cadets applying for this opportunity have to work to earn the privledge to participate - from having to serve community service hours, to writing a 1,500 word essay on the meaning of the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, and not to mention they have to sit an interview board composed of Canadian Veterans. So in the end, we know that our participants are engaged and have earned the priviledge to visit those who remain in lands so very far away.
We appreciate your time to learn about our challenge and the opportunity that we hope will come true for the Air Cadets of 142 Mimico 'Determination' Squadron. As a small inner-city youth group in the Lakeshore and Royal York area of Toronto, the members 142 would like to say thank you in advance for any financial contribution that you wish to donate.
To learn more about 142, please visit our Squadron website at: www.142sqn.ca
Thank you for your generosity.
An opportunity to learn the history of our great nation while discovering other cultures and ways of life is also an important segment of the Air Cadet programme, and supplements the regular training through recreational, cultural and educational trips to various communities from time to time.
In 2017, the Air Cadets of 142 have set a goal to travel to France to tour the Normandy region, remembering those brave Canadians who fought two World Wars, paying tribute at Commonwealth Cemeteries, visiting battlefields of significance to Canada.
With 2017 being the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, our goal is to send 50 members of the Squadron (40 youth, 10 adults) to France and Belgium for 11 days, visiting Beaumont-Hamel, Vimy Ridge, Flanders and Menin as an educational pilgrimage. For many of these young men and women, this may be a trip of a lifetime.
While an opportunity like this can be an important piece of any youth development programme, it is not a "funded activity" within the Cadet programme, thus various fundraising activities have to be undertaken to allow these youth members an opportunity to participate, including this "Go Fund Me" campaign. Our overall goal is to raise as much of the total cost of $100,000.00 CAD, to offset the amount that each participant has to pay. Over the last year we have raised $15,000.00 towards this goal, but as you can see we are a long way from reaching it. Of course, we are not waiting for this campaign to take care of it all - although that would be wonderful - we will continue to work towards this lofty goal throughout the year with car washes, bake sales and community dances at our local Royal Canadian Legion.
Of course, it is not a free ride for anyone, as all participants - and their families - have to pay their way towards the cost of the trip, which is approximately $2,000.00 per person. We hope to reduce this amount through this campaign, your generousity, and our car washes! And, just so you know, this trip is being conducted cheaply as possible, staying at government hostels - not hotels, and enjoying simple meals within the local community - not fancy restaurants. This gives the Cadets a sense of the community that they are in, and it is not only an amazing experience for the Cadets, it is good for the community too! Lastly, we are fortunate that our "guides" are Officers from within the Squadron who have experience in similar trips and have volunteered thier time, taking personal vacation and time from their families and work to lead the group.
Cadets applying for this opportunity have to work to earn the privledge to participate - from having to serve community service hours, to writing a 1,500 word essay on the meaning of the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, and not to mention they have to sit an interview board composed of Canadian Veterans. So in the end, we know that our participants are engaged and have earned the priviledge to visit those who remain in lands so very far away.
We appreciate your time to learn about our challenge and the opportunity that we hope will come true for the Air Cadets of 142 Mimico 'Determination' Squadron. As a small inner-city youth group in the Lakeshore and Royal York area of Toronto, the members 142 would like to say thank you in advance for any financial contribution that you wish to donate.
To learn more about 142, please visit our Squadron website at: www.142sqn.ca
Thank you for your generosity.
Organizer
142 Mimico Squadron
Organizer
Toronto, ON
