Agnes class of 1980.

But the spirit of giving which his early death inspired in his schoolmates is now benefiting one young girl -- who is connected to Paul in the oddly coincidental way that life often happens.

Paul was only 24 when he died after collapsing in a road race in July 1986. He had had heart problems and was told he should not run but his love of the sport drove him on.

Running alongside him in that fateful race was a man named Martin Webb. Both Martin and his wife Cindy were involved in the resuscitation efforts when Paul collapsed.

Cindy was also the attending nurse when Paul was taken to hospital. Now the couple's daughter -- Sarah, a Mount Saint Agnes student -- is being helped through her own health struggles with the aid of Paul's former schoolmates.

Paul's classmates are determined to keep his memory alive. "He was the first class member who passed away,'' said Jackie Rodill from the class's reunion committee. After each of their reunions, the class makes a donation in his name.

This year, at their 20th class reunion, they raised $2,000 to help seven-year-old Sarah who has a rare genetic disease called neurofibromatosis.

Sarah's mother explained that the disease causes tumours to grow throughout her small body. She has already won one battle with the disease, duelling a tumour which grew in her brain.

Sarah had to undergo two years of chemotherapy in order to beat that tumour which threatened to rob her of her sight,. but she won and "she's had no chemotherapy for two years now'', her mother said.

She is, however, having problems with her spine as a result of the disease and needs a special brace for her back.

The gift of Paul Smith's classmates will go towards the purchase of that brace.

And Sarah's story inspired one of Paul's former classmates to go one step further. Jackie Rodill, who is the manager of Toys 'N' Stuff, decided to raise additional money for Sarah by taking pictures of children with Santa in the toy shop last Christmas.

She recruited her son, Matthew, as the photographer. "He's my kid and I needed the help,'' she laughs.

The pair raised $500 through the snapshots and yesterday Matthew personally passed on that money to Sarah.

Sarah Webb never met Paul Smith. She wasn't even born when the young man died.

But she'll walk a little taller this year, because he touched her life anyway.

Full circle: Matthew Rodill, front left, presents a cheque to Sarah Webb.

Behind, Mount St. Agnes Class of 1980 reunion committee members, from left, Jackie Rodill, Gail Tribley, Theresa Mason and Jackie Tailford present a cheque to Sarah's parents Cindy and Martin.