granted her wish of continuing her education by a local company.

The Computer Centre donated an IBM Think Pad laptop computer and printer to 15-year-old CedarBridge Academy honours student Rodericka Pitcher yesterday so she can continue her studies while undergoing treatment in the US for a rare form of cancer.

The Pembroke teenager was diagnosed on September 9 with Osteogenic Sarcoma of the jaw -- an extremely rare bone-attacking cancer -- and will undergo surgery in a few weeks followed by chemotherapy treatment for up to a year at Mass General Hospital in Boston.

But Miss Pitcher refuses to let the disease get in the way of her life and intends to complete her high school education by getting her five remaining credits through correspondence and graduate.

Rodericka's aunt Sharon Pitcher Jones accepted the computer yesterday from The Computer Centre manager Ian MacIntyre on behalf of Rodericka, who was admitted to hospital yesterday, and her mother Hattie who is in Boston with her child.

Mrs. Pitcher Jones made the initial request for aid to the Ministry of Education and Education Minister Tim Smith had his staff seek out a company willing to donate the item.

The Computer Centre stepped forward with the philanthropic act.

"I would like to thank Tim Smith and The Computer Centre for their generous donation on behalf of Hattie and Rodericka.

"It will help the family by not only enabling Rodericka to continue her education but by allowing us to communicate on a daily basis.'' Mr. Smith noted: "One can not help but be impressed with the power of the human spirit in so far that we have a CedarBridge student who is faced with a personal challenge but is very determined to graduate.

"We also have the kindness of a corporate citizen who is prepared to assist by donating this computer. One also cannot help but be impressed by the power of technology where a CedarBridge student living overseas will be able to stay in touch with her classmates and teachers and learn just as much as anyone attending a classroom.''