By josh Howald

More than 25,000 tweets went out Friday in an effort to help Kincardine’s Jorie Elliot meet teen pop sensation Justin Bieber.

#TurtlesForJorie and #JustinMeetJorie were hashtagged more than 25,000 times on twitter between 12 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Friday, March 8.

Eliott, a student at Kincardine District Secondary School, was diagnosed with leukemia this winter. She has been undergoing treatment in London, and was in the line-up for the Montgomery Ford midget girls hockey team while home for the weekend.

While the trend picked up across the twitter world, there has been no sign that Bieber, a native of Stratford, Ontario, has noticed the campaign. He was busy getting into trouble in night clubs overseas on the weekend while on tour.

Whether or not Bieber takes notice, people are rallying behind Elliott locally.

A benefit hockey game is being planned for Sunday, April 7 at the Davidson Centre. Proceeds from that event will go towards the Ronald McDonald House, in Elliott’s name.

Emily Jolley, who is helping co-ordinate the event, said the Carruthers Nicol Insurance Kincardine Bulldogs will take on a team of high school students and others, known as “Jorie’s Team.”

The game will begin at noon, and games between local tykes are being organized for the intermissions. The Ripley Skate Team will perform immediately following the game, and then there will be a free skate for the public beginning at 1 p.m.

There will be draws and raffles – among the prizes will be Owen Sound Attack tickets and a Dion Phaneuf Toronto Maple Leaf jersey. More information will be released as it is finalized.