Elementary students at Chilliwack's Mt. Cheam Christian school fundraise for a local charity every fall, but they were inspired to do something a little different this year after five-year-old James Van Game-ren was diagnosed with cancer just before he was supposed to start kindergarten at the school last September.

This year the small private school decided to dedicate its annual two-week fundraising event to BC Children's Hospital, and last week it presented the hospital with a cheque for $16,600.

About 210 kindergarten-to-Grade 7 students participated, and donations came in from Chilliwack, Hope and Agassiz.

Grade 6 student William Klop raised over $600, collecting pledges door-to-door on his skateboard.

Funds raised will help support the health needs of B.C.'s sick and injured children including funding clinical care, research and development, staff and family education programs, and the purchase of vital, life-saving equipment at the hospital.