After 2025’s historic campaign, Mckernan School re-enters the Ben Stelter School Fundraiser (BSSF) for 2026.
Alex Sokolovski, a student leader in McKernan’s 2025 campaign, highlighted the school’s spirit to be excited for.
“The students at McKernan were exceptionally excited about the fundraiser. During the assemblies we hosted, I couldn’t even get through a sentence without them cheering or clapping!”
McKernan School was fast to break records in the organization’s 2025 run, with over 50 other schools, in their first year with a flagship number of $24,521: this is the highest the fundraiser has ever seen up until that point, earning them a pizza party sponsored by Boston Pizza.
As the student-led campaign establishes itself as Canada’s largest, McKernan School might become a long-term passionate member. At the school, the BSSF is becoming a school culture icon.
Not only do the students study in proximity to what will be the Ben Stelter Centre for Proton Therapy & Neurosciences which is next to the U of A Cross Cancer Institute, but the school’s location surrounding central Edmonton ties students closely to the city’s hockey culture and its love for the late Oilers superfan Ben Stelter. Students there have a tangible reason to raise funds for the BSSF.
John Scamell, Principal at McKernan School, talks about the school’s tight connection with Ben’s story and the BSSF.
“This cause seemed to resonate with our community […] I think we’ve all been touched in one way or another by cancer, and Ben’s story, being local and his bond with the Oilers, makes this one feel personal.”
Alex Sokolovski, who is now also the Director of Marketing in the organization, and Alice Thomas were the successful student leaders who led the BSSF’s biggest campaign.
Raffles, pop sales, craft sales, bottle drives, and bake sales mostly made the campaign in McKernan. But the student leaders were able to distinguish the success of their campaign through personal efforts to attract major donors. Their classroom challenge was also motivating, with the highest raising classrooms winning parties and trips.
Sokolovski shares McKernan School’s blueprint to 2025’s successful initiative.
“During the strike, they informed me that I had become McKernan’s student leader for the BSSF. I went right to work building slide decks, posters and planning during the strike so we could hit the ground running when school resumed. Reflecting on that, without the early initiative we could have not even raised as much money for such a great cause.”
Aariz Mawji, Director of the BSSF, made a statement on his excitement as McKernan re-joins the BSSF for 2026.
“I’m super excited to have McKernan participate again in the fundraiser! They were super pumped last year and brought lots of energy. I personally visited a couple of times, and the crowd was amazing and super passionate!
With McKernan returning for 2026, the school looks to build on its record‑breaking momentum to fund Canada’s first ever Proton Therapy with the Ben Stelter School Fundraiser.
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