YELLOWKNIFE - The halls of Sir John Franklin were filled with the sounds of grumbling stomachs on the night of April 27 as 28 students went hungry to fight famine.

Jenny Aitken, 14, and Meghan Marchildon, 15, were the two top fundraisers for the 30-hour famine held at Sir John Franklin high school April 27 to 28. The money raised will go to World Vision Canada to help fight famine in third world countries. - Christine Grimard/NNSL photo

The students were participating in the 30-hour Famine, an event organized by World Vision Canada since 1971, where students raise money through pledges to support them not eating any solid foods for 30 hours. The money raised goes towards fighting hunger in third world countries.

Jenny Aitken, who raised the second most amount of money with $264, said she got some strange reactions going door-to-door canvassing for pledges.

"People were saying, 'So I'm going to give you money to starve yourself," said Aitken.

David Rankine, the teacher who helped organize the event as the student leadership advisor, said that reaction is common among older people not familiar with the event. He's been helping out with the event for several years, and said most younger people are familiar with the event as they have probably participated.

Having experience with the 30-hour famine, Rankine said he has learned a few tricks to help the students along on this simulated hunger strike.

Rankine said 8 p.m. to midnight is the toughest time to get through as the students start getting tired and a little grumpy from not having eaten.

"To keep their minds there I take them down to the gym and wear them out," said Rankine. He then sends them to bed.

Starting Friday and going to Saturday afternoon, Rankine kept the students active with dodgeball and a relay race in the gym, along with two games rooms and a movie room.

The students raised $3,500 for World Vision Canada. Meghan Marchildon, 15, came out on top raising $550. She said she is hoping to almost double that amount when she participates next year.