A Saanich high school student is being recognized for her tireless efforts to raise funds and awareness for organ transplants – a cause she holds close to her heart.
Jayla Jeske is one of four students being awarded BC Transplant’s “Life Life. Pass It On.” scholarship this year, to the tune of $1,500.
Jeske, who just finished Grade 11 at Claremont Secondary School, has organized two Green Shirt Day events at her school. The day was originally started to honour Logan Boulet, a defenceman who died in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash. His organs were donated, which led to saving six lives. This day raises awareness of organ donations and to register organ donors across Canada.
For Jeske, the cause is personal as her father Dave received a liver transplant in 2021.
Jeske’s parents had to travel to Vancouver so her father can undergo surgery. They had to live in an apartment there due to her father’s many checkups with doctors. She says this was a very hard time for her.
“Me and my brother had to stay home with my aunt who came all the way from Regina to stay with us. Not having my mom and dad around was just super different. It was actually kind of hard on my mental health.”
Before this year, the scholarship was only awarded to students in Grade 12 – Jeske applied last year and won, but was unable to accept the award. This year the scholarship’s rules were changed to allow Grade 10 to 12 students to apply. Jeske re-applied and won.
At her school, Jeske is part of a club called the Pursuit of Excellence Program, where students are asked to pursue a leadership project.
READ MORE: 233 people - living and dead - donated organs in B.C. in 2022
While her dad was undergoing his operation and treatment, the transplant society offered to help start a Green Shirt Day at Jeske’s school, offering kits with posters, pins, pens and pamphlets.
Jeske and her classmates have used the day to reach more than 2,600 of their peers annually since 2021.
“Having both those resources align was my inspiration to do the project. It was really empowering to see the whole school kind of behind me and my dad,” Jeske said.
After graduating high school, the teen is looking to commit to a Canadian university for hockey, which she has been playing all her life. While in university, she says she would like to continue showing awareness towards organ donation.
“Since the project has been so successful over the past two years, I’ll definitely carry it into my grade 12 year. And then after that, I’ll try to keep it going in university.”
Jeske wasn’t aware of how important organ donations were before finding out that her father needed a new liver. This was a major factor as to why she wanted to bring awareness to it. She says that she wants kids, and people in general, to understand this and not have to worry about it.
“Showing awareness towards organ donation is really important. It’s very helpful and literally saves people’s lives. Without it, my dad would be dead.”
