Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 05/01) - They could have spent the cash on anything.

Every year, a business gives $1,500 to the school that raises the most money for the CIBC Run for the Cure.

It's an incentive to get students involved in the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation's largest fundraising event.

J.H. Sissons school has won the money for three consecutive years. Last year, the students spent it on new gym equipment.

But this year they chose to give it to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Principal Paul Bennett pulled the kids aside this week.

"I told them they had a decision to make. And they all decided to turn the money over."

"We thought it would be more kind," said Grade 5 student Michelle Bokovay. "We wanted to raise money so they could find a cure and people wouldn't die."

"We didn't raise the money just to get a reward," added Lena Samoilova.

Bokovay, whose mother was diagnosed with breast cancer last July, presented the $1,500 cheque to CIBC general manager Gord Monteath on Thursday during a school assembly.

"I was pretty impressed that the kids would take it upon themselves to give the money back to the community," said Carey McKiel, owner of Elite Commercial Flooring Ltd, the business that provided this year's incentive.