Lee off to New York and the White House

Alison Lee has set herself a big goal to fundraise $50,000 next year,

enough to send two children to the Little Warriors Be Brave Ranch.

The ranch, set to open later this year, will provide treatment for

children aged eight to 12 who have been sexually abused. Lee, 16 years

old and a survivor of childhood sexual abuse herself, has already

fundraised $22,000 for Little Warriors.

Now that she’s been accepted into the Youth Ambassadors Program she

hopes to glean some big ideas to help her fundraise that $50,000. The

program brings high school students and adult mentors from countries

across the Americas together to increase mutual understanding, develop

leadership skills and prepare youth to be active citizens in their

communities.

Alison said the mentors will be giving the youth information and

guidance on being an active citizen and how to organize a fundraising

event in their home community, one of the requirements of

participating in the program.

“I’ve never got to listen to big entrepreneurs and how to plan

fundraising events,” she said. “I’d really love to get to the point

where I can do a big fundraiser and have that insight on how to do a

budget and how to get sponsorships.”

As an advocate for children who have been sexually abused, Alison said

she wants to bring awareness and help prevent sexual abuse.

“One in three girls and one in six boys are sexually abused before the

time they’re 18. When you say that statistic, not many people

understand that’s one in three walking past (you) in the street,” she

said.

The three-week exchange program will see Lee travel first to Ottawa on

July 20 where she’ll join 20 other high school students from across

Canada. After a couple of days in Ottawa, the students will travel to

Plattsburgh, New York, then to New York City and Washington, D.C.

“Not many kids get to go on a three-week exchange,” she said. “I’m so

excited because I’ve never travelled outside of Canada. It’s pretty

cool to be 16 and going to the White House.”

While the cost of her trip is paid for, Alison is having a hard time

getting some spending money together since she depleted her savings

following a car collision a month ago.

“Some lady totalled my car so I’ve had to use all my savings to buy a

new car and I come from a low-income family and my family can’t really

afford to give me money,” she said.

Anyone who’d like to help Alison can call 403-345-5437 or send an

email to alison.xo15@gmail.com.

“I’m hoping I can get 10 people who can just help me out with $100,

then I’ll be good. My mom’s worried about health care and stuff, like

if something happened to me down there,” Alison said.

*Her mom added check out a short documentary on YouTube produced by Shaw in Edmonton. Alison is on the fourth episode. Called “building brave.”

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