A Heartwarming Race at St. Teresa of Avila
When a pair of Grade 8 students set off for a recent elementary cross-country event, they put the focus on sportsmanship rather than winning.
Simona Kucman and Alice Morrallee from St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Elementary School took it upon themselves to help a friend in Grade 1, Matias Aisa, cross the finish line.
Leading up to the race, Matias trained with his peers at school, going for walks around the schoolyard a few times a week. His cheerful spirit and determination quickly became an inspiration to everyone around him.
When race day finally arrived, Simona and Alice approached Educational Assistant Kirsten LaPorte with a wonderful idea: they wanted to run alongside Matias. For them, this race would be one of their last before graduating in June, and they wanted to make it special by helping a younger student experience the joy of cross-country running.
This act of kindness isn’t new at St. Teresa of Avila. LaPorte has often encouraged older students to take on mentoring roles with younger peers, especially those with special needs, during school and CYO events.
“Matias had a blast, and both of his parents came to watch and loved seeing him running with the girls,” she said.
“We are so proud of Matias, running his very first cross-country race with Simona and Alice,” added Teacher Jenn McCabe.
“It was a beautiful example of kindness, teamwork, and the strong community spirit we cherish at STA.”
Reflecting on the experience, Simona said, “We knew Matias was going to run with Ms. LaPorte, and we wanted to help however we could and make it easier for her. He never stopped and showed great determination!”
“It was so cute when he ran with us and held on to our hands,” added Alice.
As Matias crossed the finish line, hand in hand with his Grade 8 teammates, cheers erupted from the crowd. It was more than just a race — it was a touching reminder of what makes the STA community so special: compassion, friendship, and the joy of cheering one another on.