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Central Middle school students donate money to music program

Grade 8 student Tom Kerr and his younger brother Ian were the runners up in this year's Hands-on Cook-off challenge in the youth category.
Kids donate money 1
Central Middle School students Ian (left) and Tom Kerr have donated half of their winnings from the Hands-on Cook-off challenge to their school music program.

Two Central Middle School students are donating part of their winnings from a provincial food contest to their school's music program.

Grade 8 student Tom Kerr and his younger brother Ian were the runners up in this year's Hands-on Cook-off challenge in the youth category.

The contest was put on by Better Together, a program that aims to show the benefits of eating together, and encouraged families to bring together food and fun in the kitchen and to eat healthier.

As part of their three-minute video submission, their mother Kate filmed them making smoked salmon and dill rolls with horseradish cream, a recipe they came up with themselves.

“We basically just thought of different recipes and tried to fit them together,” said Ian, who heard about the contest from his grandparents. “I like cooking, it's really relaxing. If you mess up or it doesn't work out, you can just start again.”

Their unique recipe won them $500, half of which they've decided to donate to their school's music program.

“We chose the music program because I've been in it for three years and it's been really great. We've done lots of fun things and have gone on trips,” said Tom, who plays the clarinet and alto saxophone in jazz band; while Ian plays the trumpet in the honour wind ensemble.

Marianne Ing, a music teacher at the school, said they will use the $125 to set up a special fund for students who can't afford to go on their annual band trip.

“I was excited and happy for them as well as that they chose our music program to donate to,” said Ing. “They're hard working boys. I'm proud of them and excited to see what they will do with their cooking in the future.”

There were more than 41 submissions from around the province in for this year's Hands-on Cook-Off challenge.