The Cochrane High School Psychology Club presented a cheque for $500 to the Schizophrenia Society of Calgary on June 7.

The extracurricular club has been raising funds for the society by hosting school events including selling "wellness" cookies, and hosting a hypnotist show.

Ashley Thauberger, Schizophrenia Society of Calgary Community Education Program Coordinator, says the Psych Club's goals were unique.

"I've never been to a school where they focus so much on schizophrenia specifically, I think a lot of people focus on depression and bipolar disorder," she says. "I think that schizophrenia is still something that's sort of in the dark, and it's not talked about. For students to come out and raise awareness, and have this initiative go on is truly amazing, and $500 is a lot of money for them to raise."

Grade 12 student Claire Forbes, Member of the Psych Club, says the group chose to raise money for the organization as it has always been heavily involved with the school.

"We wanted to do something to give back to them," she says. "Because of how much they do for us."

Another member, Grade 12 student Malachi Davis, shares the club wants the society to be able to educate more people.

"They're a non profit organization so they don't have that many funds," he says. "We wanted to donate to them, so they could help more people learn about schizophrenia."

The club didn't only raise money, but awareness around the disorder. Schizophrenia has gotten some bad press lately after the Matthew De Grood trial, Forbes explains the majority of people with the disorder are not violent.

"Well most people who have schizophrenia aren't violent at all, the stigma is that they are violent to other people. It shouldn't be like that for everyone, it was a special case, and there are special cases in everything."

Thauberger adds the Calgary Schizophrenia Society works tirelessly to break the misconceptions around the illness.

"Schizophrenia affects 1% of the population worldwide, people need to remember it's a disorder of the brain, and just like any organ in your body the brain is susceptible to disease and disorders. It's just like cancer or diabetes, it's just the brain that's the part that's broken. We need to remind ourselves of that, these people are the same as everyone else, they just experience different things at times."

The money raised will go directly to the CSS Community Education Program, to raise awareness and reduce stigma.