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Penny Power Goes to the Dog

Cool School @ CUC collects thousands of pennies for UWinnipeg’s Wesley, the mine-sniffing dog

WINNIPEG, MB – Thirty-nine thousand three hundred and six pennies – that’s what children in Charleswood have collected for Wesley, UWinnipeg’s mine-sniffing dog. The penny power drive during Lent was led by Pat Van Ryssel, Children’s Ministry Coordinator at Charleswood United Church and was assisted by children of all ages who attend the Cool School @CUC.

The $393.06 will assist UWinnipeg in purchasing Wesley, a German Sheppard that will be trained to do de-mining work in Bosnia. Wesley will save lives and limbs of civilians in this war-affected country where landmines remain hidden below the ground. Mine-sniffing dogs are one of the most productive and safest ways of increasing the efficiency of de-mining and returning the land to productive use without the dogs coming into direct contact with the mines.

The University has reached 30% of its $15,000 goal to purchase Wesley. The idea to buy Wesley was born during UWinnipeg Global College’s No Landmines Action Week that took place on campus in the last week of November 2007.

Van Ryssel participated in No Landmines Action Week by attending a Night of a Thousand Dinners with her two daughters where she first learned about de-mining efforts and the efficiency of mine-sniffing dogs and wanted to contribute.

“I have a profound respect for [President & Vice-Chancellor] Dr. Lloyd Axworthy,” explained Van Ryssel. “I am aware of the magnificent work he has done to ban landmines and I immediately knew that I wanted to incorporate raising funds [for Wesley, the mine sniffing dog] into our curriculum at Cool School @ CUC. I felt that this would be the most rewarding and meaningful way our students could participate.”

Access information on Wesley and how to donate at: http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/newsflash-071214.

 

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