News Item

Pictured above: The Honourable Kevin Falcon, Deputy Premier of British Columbia, Kalli King and the Right Honourable Steven Point, OBC, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.

May 12, 2011

News item – Bench student recognized as youngest-ever BC community achiever

A few weeks ago 10-year-old Bench elementary student Kalli King received a BC Community Achievement award at Government House in Victoria. The youngest-ever BC resident to become a Community Achiever, who raised an amazing $14,600 in support of muscular dystrophy, told her story to school trustees at a regular public Board of Education meeting in early May.

“A boy in my class shaved off his hair for cancer, and I wanted to do the same for muscular dystrophy,” Kalli told the board. She began her mission when she was eight by taking pledge forms door-to-door on her street, seeking pledges from family, friends, teachers and teammates. She wrote her own letter to attach to the pledge forms.

Then her project attracted the attention of family members who have close connections with Muscular Dystrophy Canada through Cowichan Bay firefighters. Kalli dyed her hair pink and had her head shaved last summer at the Island firefighters’ Mesachie Lake ball tournament.

“There were lots of responses through Facebook, and Muscular Dystrophy Canada put it on their website,” explained Kalli’s grandmother Barbara Ferguson, as trustees admired Kalli’s medal. “The whole thing just grew and grew – it was almost overwhelming.”

Kalli, who had earlier received an award from Muscular Dystrophy Canada, traveled to Government House on April 20 to receive her BC Achievement award.

“This is a wonderful story, and you are an amazing person,” said board chair Candace Spilsbury following Kalli’s presentation.

“Kalliana King is a remarkable young girl who has a special inner desire to help others,” reads the inscription under her photograph on the BC Community Achievement website.