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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2006-11-08, Page 9News-- Seaforth. boy, 7, raising money to buil African wells Susan Hundei'tmark aimEmp When Ian. MacGregor, of Seaforth, heard his mom's sermon on a young boy who started raising money to build wells for villages in Africa, he was hooked on the -cause. Much like 15 -year-old Ryan Hrelj ac, * who won the Order of Ontario for his now world- famous foundation that has built 245 wells in 11 coun- tries, Ian was six when he started collecting money for Ryan's Wells last May. Now seven, the Seaforth Public School student has since raised $537.73 by doing chores, selling drinks at his grandmother's yard sale and convincing others to con- tribute to the cause. "I heard my mom tell the story of Ryan and I thought, 'That isn't right because they're dying in Africa when they're my age,'" says Ian. The Ryan's Well Foundation began when a six-year-old Kemptville, Ont. boy began raising money for people in African countries who didn't have clean water. Trish MacGregor spoke about the founda- tion during a church service last year when • discussing how kids can make a difference in the world. Her son Ian came home from church and asked her if he could start raising money for Ryan's Wells by doing the dishes and taking out the recycling bin. "Ian really is focussed 'on this," says Trish. "He's happy he's raised $500 and there's no question he'll keep doing it. He wants to raise enough to pay for one well." Since one well can, cost between $5,000 and $10,000, Trish tries to make Ian's goal more achievable by telling him he's raised enough so far for seven well handpumps, which cost approximately $70 each. Another connection to the cause is the fact that Trish's brother-in-law Herb Shoveller is Ryan's great uncle and wrote a book about Ryan and his foundation. Ian received a birthday card from. Ryan thanking him for his fundraising for the foundation. Since last May, Ian has put every spare penny into a can dedicated to Ryan's Wells. He had a. birthday party in ,August, asking all of his guests to bring donations for the cause instead of birthday gifts and raised $75. The $5 he won competing in several categories at the Seaforth fall fair went towards the well. And, he raised $12 with a penny drive in his Grade 2 classroom. "It's been coming in dribs and drabs," says Trish, adding that as adults learn of Ian's project, he's also been receiving cheques towards the wells in Africa. The can soon became too small and a4Rubbermaid con- tainer, now full of rolled coins and five cheques, will •be going to the bank as Ian's first contribution. Ian is hopeful he'll quickly make enough money to pay for one well. Guessing how long it will take him to raise the neces- sary $5,000, he says, "By next May, probably." F o r more informa- tion on t h e Ryan's Well Founda- tion, see www. ryans wbll.ca. Susan Hundertmark photo Ian MacGregor, 7, of Seaforth, holds a book about building wells in Africa in front of the $537.73 he's raised for the cause by doing chores and seeking donations. 11. READ ALLEN Itlt\IIIIlI: RESTORATION & REFI\ISIIING Pick-up & delivery SEAFORTH 519-527-2717 The Huron Expositor • November 8, 2006 Page 9 Kelly O'Leary ;insurance Brokers Inc. • Home • Auto • Farm • commercial Please call Kelly for any of your insurance needs at 1-888-482-9747 gkins@cabletv.on.ca s 44 Ontario St.CLINTON 519-482-3401 Parents, Grandparents, Caregivers "Parenting the Net Generation" Workshop Facilitator Warren . Nightingale Media Awareness Network Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2006 7:00 — 9:00 PM - Holmesville Public School Childcare provided Register by Nov. 17th, 2006 Call 519-482-8777 or 1-800-479-0716 Huron County Child Abuse Prevention Committee Rural Response for Healthy Children www.rncc.on.ca 4. Be a Control Freak. Programmable Thermostats instant rebate Programmable Baseboard Heater Thermostats Programmable thermostats can be set to automatically adjust the temperature to your comfort level when you're at home and set back when you call it a day or you're away. Baseboard thermostats can be easily programmed for different settings tool Properly programmed, they can easily pay for themselves in the first year. Just think of the savings over 5 or 10 years. Look for histant Rees In Your WIWI* and at Participating Retal srs. * Mailing will take ' lace during the first 2 weeks of October. Offer expires November 30, 2006 conservationbureau.on.ca Conservation Bureau