Orange Day a success: Botwood students raise $2000 for ailing classmate

Orange Day a success

Botwood students raise $2000 for ailing classmate

By RYAN COOKE

Support continues to roll in for Jordan Chippett, and his family couldn’t be more grateful.

The 17-year-old from Botwood was diagnosed with leukemia three weeks ago, and is currently in St. John’s for chemotherapy treatments.

While there is a long road ahead of him, Jordan remains in good spirit and the support he has received is not lost on his family.

 “We are overwhelmed, in a good way, with all the support shown to Jordan and ourselves,” said Darryl Chippett, Jordan’s father and vice-principal at Botwood Collegiate. “From closest friends to complete strangers, he is encouraged by all the acts of kindness and gestures of support.”

Last week, Jordan’s closest friends put together Orange Day at Botwood Collegiate and Memorial Academy, where many students and staff wore orange clothing in support of leukemia awareness. They made t-shirts and sold them to raise money for the Chippett family and the Leukemia Association.

By the time Emily Paul and Kelsey Cole finished going around the school collecting donations during the first class of the day, they had already raised $692. The totals came in around $2000 between the two schools, in just one day.

And the good deeds extend far outside of Botwood as well.

With the help of doctors and ferry workers, Jordan was able to travel to Bell Island yesterday to watch his Botwood Blades teammates defeat Gander in their Easter tournament.

Prior to the game he was presented with an orange jersey, signed by every Botwood and Area minor hockey player and coach. His teammates are all playing with an orange number seven sewed to the left chest of their jerseys, where the captain’s ‘C’ would be on Jordan’s jersey. Also, all Botwood and Area minor hockey players are playing this week with an orange number seven sticker on their helmets.

One of Jordan’s doctors even gave him her tickets to the final St. John’s Ice Caps home game of the season.

Despite being described as a quiet kid, his father says he has learned through Jordan’s ordeal that you don’t need to be outgoing or public in your actions to leave an amazing impact on those around you.

Chippett said his son had his best day in three weeks on Monday, being able to be around his friends and the game he loves. He attributes much of that to the support and prayers that have come their way, and for that he is grateful.

“It has been appreciated beyond what my limited verbal skills can express.”

Botwood native Jordan Chippett is presented with a special orange jersey by coach Den Butler (middle), and teammates Joe Parmiter (left) and Brett Butler (right), before the start of his team's Easter Tournament in Bell Island. Chippett was diagnosed with leukemia three weeks ago. Photo courtesy Darryl Chippett.

Chippett recieved his first chemotherapy treatment from Dr. Lynette Bowes on April 11, starting his long road to recovery. Photo courtesy Darryl Chippett.

Students at Botwood Collegiate made signs and cards for Chippett and his family. This one, made by Donna Buckley and Nikita Herron, was signed by all the students and staff in the school, and mailed to the family. Ryan Cooke photo.

Brandon White (left) and Ryan Benson (right), friends and classmates of Chippett, sell t-shirts during their lunch break to raise money. Ryan Cooke photo.