Former Cornerstone student, Jacob French, is taking a huge step towards raising funds for the Starlight Foundation – a charity that raises awareness and funds for desperately ill children.  Infact, so huge is his step, that it will take him completely across the Australian continent.

It is no secret that Jacob is an avid Star Wars fanatic, but Jacob is also a believer in making a difference for others.  This marriage of personal passions has resulted in him donning his favourite costume, and using this one love (that of Star Wars), for the advance of another – that of helping those less fortunate.

One day, after walking home from work, he decided that it was time to make a difference.  He came to the conclusion that his fitness made it entirely possible to walk across the country for a worthy cause.  But Jacob wants to attract as much attention as he can, and what better way than by wearing a Storm Trooper costume.

Jacob’s interest in inter-galactic fiction, has already led him to being on Hey Hey It’s Saturday, and being responsible for the care of Plucka-Duck.  He has been on music videos, television, and other high profile events, all with his identity guarded cleverly with his distinctive white helmet.  This latest event promises to bring results for young boys and girls that he may never meet, and few will see his identity as they donate towards the cause he is supporting.

Jacob departs from Perth on Sunday, and expects to walk for the next five months.  With the plan to walk 40 kms a day, for 6 days per week, the journey will be long.  He will push a cart with him, filled with the supplies he will need between towns, with a support crew with him for only parts of the journey.  For the most part, the journey will be completed as a solo challenge.

If you wish to support Jacob in his cause, you can visit his facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Troopertrek-2011/191534147550377.  Details of making donations are available at this site.  He will also carry a solar phone and laptop with him, to update interested followers of his journey as he progresses.

Jacob’s time with Cornerstone students today was quite inspiring.  He has a simple, yet worthy view of life.

‘It is great to use your passions and interests for the betterment of others.  To do so is incredibly exciting’.

Well done Jacob.  We wish you every success in your endeavours.

NB – Since the writing of this item, Jacob has commenced his journey and is attracting media attention from across the globe.  He has been interviewed and promoted in Australia, New Zealand, the USA, and Sweden.  He is on the front page of Busselton’s local paper today, as well the feature in a beautiful photograph on Page 3 of the West Australian.  Great work Jacob!  We are cheering you on.

Year 12 students at Cornerstone, with the enthusiastic support of their form teacher, Mr David van der Tang, have taken on a personal challenge that will benefit those less fortunate than themselves.

The students are collecting loose change, or spare cash, to be pooled together to allow them to go shopping as a class.  But not just any kind of shopping.  They are purchasing items that offer vital and practical support to the very poorest people across the world.  The Compassion Fund has a shopping catalogue that enables every-day Australians to make a real and tangible difference to people they will probably never meet.

So far, they have purchased a medical pack, which has provided immunisations and health checks for those desperately needing it.  Currently, they are pooling their resources to buy a goat, which will supply a family with nutritious milk, as well as the opportunity to create an income from any off-spring the goat will produce.  Students are enthusiastically participating in this project.

Mr van der Tang is delighted with the response of the students.

‘We plan to do this throughout the year, and it is not only helpful for the recipients, but gives the students an appreciation for the realities others face in other parts of the world.  This is expanding their world view’.

The Year 12 students have embraced the opportunity to invest their loose change into something that will benefit others.  They also enjoy being able to choose how they wish their funds to be used.

The Compassion Catalogue can be found at the Compassion website here.

An important place is held at Cornerstone Christian College, regarding the need to provide opportunities to raise awareness about the needs of others.  Those less fortunate, no matter where in the world they are, are often the recipients of fund-raising initiatives on campus.

The College’s student council recently hosted a free-dress day for secondary students, with the aim of raising money to support a former student who will be travelling to Mozambique with Youth With A Mission (YWAM).  Bec Blennerhasset graduated in 2009, but before she begins her journey through tertiary education, has dedicated time towards helping those less fortunate.

Given that Bec is travelling to the African continent, an African theme was given for the day.  Students were asked to exchange their uniform for something fitting with the theme, and a small donation was collected for the privilege.  For some students, extra-ordinary efforts were made.

The exquisite embroidery on Ethiopian Clothing, the rugby jumpers supporting African teams, through to warriors, complete with headgear and altered colouring were seen on the corridors last week.  Whilst some had the advantage of wearing their own national dress, others went to great lengths to achieve some remarkable outfits.

The secondary students raised $285 on the day.   Primary students raised almost the same amount, bringing the total amount to $569.30. 

Bec Blennerhasset is expected to come and share with the Cornerstone community about her experiences upon her return, later this year.

Friday saw the inaugural Battle of the Forms event unfold in the Auditorium.  The Student Council hosted the event, which was a fundraiser for Lee Norman’s trip to Ghana as well as for Mercy Ships. 

The day began with students arriving at College in free-dress, some in spectacular hats and others with money to participate in an auction.    These all led to the variety concert at the end of the morning.

A number of highlights need to be mentioned.  The acts were all terrific, and some year groups spent considerable time in preparation for their performances. The Year 9′s music video was entertaining, the dramas by the Year 7 & 8 students were well put together and the Year 10′s had the audience participating well. 

But the over-all winner of the day, was the Year 10′s with their Tick Tock drama.  Some mighty fast hand-work was required to deliver the performance and the students were deserving of their win.

The hat parade was also entertaining, with a number of winners announced.  Competition divisions included: most colourful hat; most safety conscious hat; most elegant hat; most edible hat; and the best teacher’s hat.  A photo of the winners can be seen here.

The auction created quite a stir, with Mr Cameron barely being heard above the noise in the auditorium.  Some students bid on items that are likely to end up in Mum’s Christmas parcel, like Waffle Irons and Place-mats; whilst one student is taking home 8 golf clubs of varying sizes and 40 golf balls.  Several students had assistance in raising their arms by others surrounding them, so some surprises may be in order at the collection table!

Special thanks must go to the Student Council for their leadership in this event.  Well done!

Cornerstone Christian College participated in a Fundraising day on Wednesday, which had an extra-ordinary result.

Uniforms were swapped for casual wear, and students donated money for the privilege.  The result was that $1200 was raised towards purchases from the TEAR fund catalogue.  This method of ‘shopping-with-a-difference’ provides the average person with the opportunity to participate in projects that seek to improve the lives of the poorest and most marginalised people.

For Cornerstone Students, the ability to participate in looking to the needs of others was important, but this style of fundraising also had a lot of fun attached.  Once each class had calculated their donated amounts the students were sent shopping with the money.  Shopping from the TEAR catalogue that is.

The purchases were as follows:  7 sets of school supplies, 5 Fish Farming packs, 13 Mosquito nets, 2 tree seedlings, 10 water purifying kits, 3 vegetable gardens, 3 food security aids, 1 literacy skills pack, 1 family health care pack, 1 primary schooling pack, 2 goats, 3 health worker/birth attendants, 2 toilets and 1 HIV care pack!! 

 Organizing teacher, Miss Jo Needham was thrilled with the response.

“The TEAR Fundraising day was met with overwhelming support from parents, students and staff. It was great to see classes working together to decide what gifts to purchase for people around the world who are not as fortunate as us.”