Twelve-year-old Mason Day, a Bradford, Ont., resident, has an important insight for us all: we can use our passions as a way to give back to our communities. For Mason, that meant putting a new twist on a classic puzzle game.

Taking Notice
Earlier this year, Mason visited The Salvation Army’s Northridge Community Church in Aurora, Ont., which provides a number of community-focused programs and services that meet the needs of those in the Ontario towns of East Gwillimbury, Bradford, King Township, Newmarket, Aurora and Stouffville. Mason independently researched and took special notice of the community services offered by the church.

“I was impressed by the housing and food services they provide,” says Mason. “The thought of someone going without food is hard to imagine.”

So this spring, Mason decided to use his hobby to fundraise on behalf of The Salvation Army.

Mason is a passionate speed cuber and a national competitor.

Speed cubing is a timed activity using the Rubik’s Cube. Speed cubers attempt to solve puzzle sizes, such as the 3×3 and 2×4. They use a series of moves to unscramble the cube into one face colour on each side of the cube.

“I realized I could use my cubing hobby as a tool for helping people,” explains Mason.

Honourable Choice
As a school project, Mason created and held a fundraiser called Cubing for Causes. The event was held last May at the Bradford West Gwillimbury Library.

The event was organized similar to a national cubing competition for kids, with time cards, judges, entry fees and a snack table. All proceeds went to community and family services programs at Northridge Community Church.

The event raised $426, which will directly support those in the community.

“He is an incredible young man,” says Nancy Harrison, the Army’s community relations representative at Northridge Community Church. “For him to choose The Salvation Army as a charity is an honour.”

Mason Day can be found on his Cubert Cuber YouTube channel sharing his knowledge of cubing.

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