Students at Percy Pegler School have been inspired by one of their own to help bring holiday cheer to kids at the Alberta Children's Hospital.

After a classmate was scheduled for surgery at the facility for the end of the month, Grade 5 students decided they wanted the school to make her and other children at the hospital's stay more enjoyable for Christmas.

Dinah Van Donzel, principal at Percy Pegler School, says they'll be putting together little gift baskets.

"Classes are going to be building baskets with either new stuffies, toys, activity books, Lego... things that they would like if they were laid up in the hospital for instance, and we'll package that and bring them to our student friend in the hospital and she'll be able to give them out to her friends who are on unit."

Van Donzel says the local angle for the Christmas fundraiser hits home for students.

"I think the personal touch for it being one of our own students resonates for our kids. Anytime you can have kids connect with who they're doing their community service or humanitarian work for it's just that much more powerful so that's why we're pretty excited about this project."

Students have about a week and a half left to bring their baskets to school before they're taken for delivery.

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