blog

Kids Can Help

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:41:34 -0700

Sean Thomas may only be 12 years old, but he is a highly motivated and socially-conscious youth.

Motivated by his grandma's cancer diagnosis a few years ago, he realized he wanted to be part of the solution. He wanted to help find a treatments, and maybe one day a cure. The place to begin? With other kids, of course.

By recruiting other kids with a similar passion he created the “Kids Can Help” fundraising initiative and started organizing fundraisers for BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. Through various community events such as a talent show and silent auction, and coin drives since 2009 Sean, along with support from friends, family, local business and the Langley community, has raised over $27,000 in support of the Oncology department at BC Children’s Hospital.

Although this amount along seems incredible, Sean is never one to stop reaching for the starts. This year, with so many more Kids Can Help volunteers, Sean wants to be able to present $20,000 at our Miracle Weekend, taking place live on Global BC, June 1 & 2.

Support Sean Thomas, and the Kids Can Help meet their $20,000 fundraising goal for Miracle Weekend this year by attending a fun night of activities at the Great Escape in Langley.

Event starts at 5pm, $21 for a ticket that can be purchased at the door.

What: Kids Can Help Team Great Escape Event

Playground admission
Activities such as laser tag, air trek and 3-D golf
one slice of pizza or hot dog and one fountain pop

When: Thursday, May 16, 2013

Where: The Great Escape 20645 Langley Bypass phone: (604)-533-1432

Why: Support BC Children’s Hospital Foundation Oncology Program

Cost: tickets $21 and include a choice of 2 activities (air trek, 3D mini golf. or laser tag), a choice of a slice of pizza or pop, and a fountain drink.

How: Purchase tickets at the door or email: kidscanhelpkids@gmail.com for advance tickets.

Meet our ChildRun Champion: Shaelyn

Thu, 02 May 2013 08:30:00 -0700

Have you ever met someone who can light up a room? That’s exactly what eight-year-old Shaelyn Stonnell can do. Shaelyn is this year’s ChildRun Champion Child—an honour bestowed each year upon a special childhood cancer fighter. She and her mother Dana spoke to the ChildRun committee earlier this month about what BC Children’s Hospital means to them. .

Shaelyn was diagnosed with an aggressive form of childhood cancer, stage IV neuroblastoma, at two years old. She was admitted in February 2007 when doctors found a tumour in her adrenal gland. Dana recalls the day when she and Shaelyn watched families and friends participate in ChildRun from her hospital room window. Dana made a promise to Shaelyn that she would be able to participate as soon as she got better. Shaelyn returned home in October of that same year. In 2008, she and her family enjoyed their first ChildRun as a family, forming Shaelyn’s Dream Team.

Shaelyn, Dana and their family thank you for your continued support and participation in ChildRun. Your contributions make a tremendous difference in the lives of families, like Shaelyn’s, across the province. We, too, would like to thank you and look forward to seeing you on Sunday, June 2, at the 28^th annual ChildRun presented by the Wilson Family.

One last thing: Shaelyn wants to give a shout out to Pepperoni Cafe in Surrey who, along with Shaelyn, created a pizza called “the Shaelyn Pizza.” When you buy this pizza, the restaurant will make a donation to Shaelyn’s Dream Team. So go ahead, pick up the phone, place your order and help kids at the same time!

Remembering A Great Friend

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:42:50 -0700

Today we mourn the passing of a good friend and supporter.

Lindsey Lourenco passed away early this morning. Lindsey was just 18, and had been a patient at BC Children’s Hospital for close to six years.

Diagnosed with Leukemia at 13 years old, Lindsey spent her high school years living with cancer. During this time Lindsey, her father Tony, mother Darlene and twin sister Sadie became close friends of our foundation, and are well known to many foundation supporters.

In 2012, Lindsey served as BC Children’s Hospital’s champion child, meaning that she and her family were ambassadors for BC Children’s Hospital, speaking at countless events and representing the hospital at national and international meetings in Ottawa and Orlando. Really, this was simply an extension of the work the family had been doing for us for years. The entire family has demonstrated tremendous courage, compassion and commitment, sharing highs and lows with the foundation and its supporters. To say that Lindsey’s story has reached and moved thousands is no exaggeration.

Our thoughts are with her family and the many people who, like us, are this morning feeling the loss of this bright light. We are grateful for what Lindsey and her family have shared with us, and for the positive impact that they have had on the services provided by BC Children’s Hospital and on the many families who seek care for their children here.

A few months ago, Lindsey designed a tattoo that she had painted onto her forearm with sunflowers and the word "courage". This became a tribute to her fight, and her way of life. Today, we honour her with sunflowers.

In lieu of real flowers, Lindsey’s parents have asked that donations be made to www.bcchf.ca/lindseylourenco.

BC Children's patients make a sweet deposit at TD branches

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 15:11:37 -0800

Yesterday TD branches throughout the province received a special surprise visit from BC Children’s Hospital patient families thanking TD employees and clients for their support of children in BC and across the country.

For the past 26 years, TD has been a partner of Children’s Miracle Network and has supported BC Children’s Hospital. Through some pretty hard work and creative fundraising, TD has reached a $50-million milestone in giving! Through Children’s Miracle Network, they have supported 14 children’s hospitals across Canada, including BC Children’s Hospital, which has received over $9.2 million over the years.

When we heard that TD had been named Children’s Miracle Network Hospital’s North American Corporate Partner of the Year, we wanted to do something special to congratulate them on receiving such a prestigious award. The kids - who stopped by branches in Vancouver, Victoria, Surrey, Richmond, Burnaby and Port Coquitlam - loved dropping off these TD-colour cakes, and wow, were the employees surprised and thrilled!

Richmond

Burnaby	Port Coquitlam

	Victoria

As part of TD's community giving, British Columbians are invited to visit their local TD Canada Trust branch to donate between December 1 and 15.

Starting December 1, customers of TD can sign up for an annual monthly donation and dollars contributed will come to BC Children's Hospital through Children’s Miracle Network. Donations to Children’s Miracle Network hospitals are used to support the hospital's most critical needs. You can visit www.td.com/corporateresponsibility for more information.

When Video Games Save Lives: Extra Life

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 14:00:00 -0700

“This Saturday we play.“ That’s the line Extra Life’s friends and supporters are broadcasting, loud and clear.

Extra Life is an annual 24-hour gaming marathon fundraiser, supporting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. This Saturday, gamers across the country will take to their consoles, tablets, cell phone or even old-school board games and play to fundraise for BC Children’s Hospital. Start your Extra Life marathon in your home, school, office or local coffee shop at 8 a.m., Saturday, October 20, and don’t stop until 8 a.m. on Sunday, October 21. Now is your chance to act like a kid again and play 24-7 for the kids!

To date, gamers have raised more than $16,000 for BC Children’s Hospital and that number just continues to grow. Electronic Arts (EA) has also come on board and have already raised more than $1000 for the event.

I suppose it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise but we had no idea British Columbia was home to such a passionate and engaged community of gamers. The effort and fundraising each gamer is undertaking on behalf of BC kids just goes to show that help can come in all forms. To the BC gamer community, thank you for all that you do for child health!

So, how can you help these gamers reach their fundraising goals?

Visit the Extra Life website to donate in support of an idvidual or team
Supporting your team by liking them on Facebook and mentioning them on Twitter.
Even better, sign up today and start your own gaming marathon on Saturday. If you can't get it organized by Saturday, you can always wait for the newly released Halo 4 and Call of Duty and run your Extra Life 24-hour marathon in November!

Play Games. Heal kids. That’s what Extra Life is all about - good luck, gamers!

Instagram Miracle Moments at BC Children’s Hospital

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 17:21:10 -0700

Well, it’s official. The BC Children’s Hospital Foundation has finally joined the Instagram community. We’ll be working hard over the next few months to share small and powerful moments that take place within our hospital walls. In turn, some of our photos will be posted to Facebook and Twitter.

It’s often hard to convey the impact of each connection we make with patients and their families. We’re hoping to better share those stories through the power of photography. If you’re on Instagram, you can extend your hospital support by following us. Just search for “BCCHF.” Meantime, here are a few Instagram moments we captured during a walk through the hospital, earlier this week.

Weeve

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 06:00:00 -0700

It really is the little things that count, here at BC Children's Hospital. From those extra minutes a nurse gives a parent catching up on sleep to the lemonade stands our young supporters set up as a fundraiser for the hospital, it's efforts like these that make miracles happen for BC kids.

We’re always on the look-out for new and innovative ways of fundraising for BC Children’s Hospital and we recently jumped at the chance to be the spotlight campaign on Weeve.it, a new crowd-funding platform developed right here in British Columbia.

Crowdfunding (fundraising through a network of people and individual donations) has become a popular way for non-profit organizations to raise money and direct funds to specific campaigns and special projects. Online platforms like Kickstarter in the United States and the International Indigogo platform allow non-profits as well as start-ups and entrepreneurs to raise the funds they need to launch their business or product. For a small transaction fee, the platform allows you to host a fundraiser.

Weeve.it is slightly different from other crowdfunding platforms. What makes it different is also what makes it remarkable. While other platforms charge a transaction fee, Weeve waives the fee, making sure 100% of every dollar raised is donated to its non-profit projects.

BC Children’s Hospital was offered the opportunity to feature the Campaign for BC Children; a campaign that hopes to raise $200 million dollars. To-date, we’ve rasied $137 million and, so far, Weeve donors have contributed $3,227. That’s remarkable when you consider how new Weeve is to our online community of supporters.

What’s also remarkable about Weeve is the average age of its founders. CEO Alex Chuang, CTO Vincent Chu, and COO Trevor Loke are all under the age of 24 which means Weeve is the brainchild of a millennial team of leaders.

We feel a kinship with the developers at Weeve - we're two groups of people working hard to build something that we hope will serve our families and communities for the better. We’d be delighted if you considering making a donation to the campaign.

Thank You for your support of A World of Smiles!

Thu, 31 May 2012 10:15:05 -0700

On behalf of BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, a huge thank you to all of our sponsors and volunteers for helping make this year’s A World of Smiles telethon a massive success. Thanks to all of our kind and caring participants and donors, the 2012 telethon raised $360,810 for BC children! The funds will go toward the hospitals greatest needs including equipment, research, programs and services. All funding will be used to provide better care for children across the province.

A very special thanks to all of the amazing children and their families for sharing their incredible stories. This year’s A World of Smiles telethon would not have been possible without you!

By supporting the work done at BC Children’s Hospital you are making the ultimate investment – ensuring our province’s kids have a bright future.

Thank you again to everyone involved with this year’s telethon for your participation and enthusiasm. We hope to see from you again next year!

Making Miracles with a Dream Factory

Mon, 28 May 2012 18:06:36 -0700

In honour of Miracle Weekend, BC Children’s Hospital has invited Channing Rodman - blogger, social media strategist and all-round superstar - to join the Miracle Weekend team as an online host on Sunday, June 3rd. Channing is not only a social media strategist; she’s a brand new parent. Since 2005 she has specialized in digital solutions including online fundraising for youth health education in Quebec, spreading awareness about human rights in Europe and supporting midwives in Vancouver. For fun, she writes and illustrates a storytelling blog for children (and their tired parents) about the Dream Factory. It’s a website worth a visit, at least, if you dream big and believe in the imagination and creativity of children.

During Miracle Weekend, Channing will be watching for your online posts and tweets of support to the families who depend on BC Children's Hospital. You never know, she might put your story live, on air! With under a week to go until Miracle Weekend, we decided to sit down with Channing and learn a little more about what makes her own miracle-making tick.

Do you have a personal connection to BC Children’s Hospital?

Like many panicky first time parents, I've already visited the emergency room there with my baby (it all ended well!) I was really impressed with our experience there - everyone was so efficient but at the same time so kind and reassuring. I'd donated to BCCHF before I became a parent but spending just a little bit of time there really brought home how the hospital supports so many parents and kids just like mine - not to mention families in more complicated health situations - every day.

What are you most curious about Miracle Weekend?

Naturally, I can't wait to hear other parent's stories! But I'm also really curious to learn more about all the diverse work the staff at the hospital does. For example, some of my neighbours turn out to be researchers at BCCH working on cures to childhood diseases. Until I met them, I hadn't really thought about the fact that the hospital does so much more than urgent care. It's important work!

Your background involves working with young people and new mums. What draws you to these communities?

Hah, well, I definitely have a personal grounding in both communities. But I also think that stories from both of these communities tend to be dismissed by so many other groups - and yet young people and parents have so much to tell us about who we are as a community right now, and where our future lies. It's important to me to help their voices be heard.

What’s the Dream Factory all about?

The Dream Factory is a free storytelling blog I started for kids and their tired parents. When I was little and had a bad dream, my mom would use my red toy rotary telephone to make a customer service call for me to the Dream Factory...and she'd really let them have it! Watching my mom demand better dreams for me was so empowering that the bad dreams always went away after a Dream Factory call. Nowadays, the Dream Factory's customer service is on Twitter as @dreamfeedback and has a corporate blog run by Ace, a friendly sleep sheep (you know, one of the sheep people count to fall asleep?) If your kid is having bad dreams, complain to Ace at kidsdreamfactory@gmail.com - she'll write back, and you might even get on the blog!

Do you have a mom motto?

Value what other parents and kids can teach you, laugh with your kid, and eat good chocolate.

What about your life motto?

Spread discussion and compassion. And, um, did I mention chocolate?

The 25^th annual BC Children's Hospital Miracle Weekend is a televised two-day celebration that showcases the best of BC Children's Hospital: patients, their families, caregivers and supporters who come from every corner of BC. Tune in to watch, live on Global BC - Saturday, June 2 from 7pm until 5:30pm on Sunday, June 3, 2012.

A World of Smiles Telethon

Fri, 25 May 2012 09:00:31 -0700

Make sure you tune on Sunday, May 27 to the 14^th annual A World of Smiles telethon!

When:	Sunday, May 27, 2012 5:00pm - 11:00pm
Where:	Shaw Multicultural Channel Cable 116, Shaw Direct channel 299 and Shaw TV Channels in BC

Every year, the South Asian community unites with Shaw Multicultural Channel for its annual A World of Smiles telethon to benefit BC Children’s Hospital. The six-hour telethon features special programming including patient stories and entertainment from around BC and internationally. Viewers are encouraged to call in to make a donation to support BC Children's Hospital Foundation.

Introducing this years A World of Smiles champions, Jenna and Devin Sidhu!

For the past 18 years, the Sidhu family members have been regular visitors to BC Children’s Hospital. The Sidhu twins, Jenna and Devin, were born prematurely and have come to rely on the expertise of the hospital’s specialists to help them achieve the highest possible quality of life.

Jenna’s first major health scare happened when she was 10. One morning in 2004, Jenna woke up with a headache and, within 20 minutes, had lapsed into a coma. She was rushed to her local hospital and underwent emergency surgery. Tests revealed that she had a congenital disorder that caused abnormal connections of arteries and veins in her brain.

Following surgery, Jenna, still in a coma, was transported to BC Children’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). There Jenna’s parents learned that the bleeding in her brain had crushed her brain stem and that she was unlikely to regain consciousness. Miraculously, midway through her four-week stay in the PICU, Jenna regained consciousness. She was still unable to breathe on her own but her condition was steadily improving. Within a week, a brain scan showed there was no longer brain stem damage. Six months later Jenna returned home and began her long journey of relearning to walk and talk. Today, Jenna’s life involves coping with the aftermath of her illness and manage her health challenges. It is also a life full of hope.

Jenna’s twin, Devin, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth and has faced numerous challenges throughout his 18 years. As is the case with many children with cerebral palsy, Devin requires a wheelchair and has undergone surgery twice to correct his hip displacement. In the fall of 2011 he underwent surgery to correct a severe curve in his spine. The surgery, done in two stages, took more than 20 hours. After three weeks of recovery at Children’s Hospital, Devin spent a week at Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children for rehabilitation. Thanks to the surgery and support of his caregivers, Devin is now able to sit in his wheelchair for longer periods of time while watching his favourite sports team, the Vancouver Canucks.

Miracle Weekend Kickoff

Fri, 11 May 2012 09:23:56 -0700

Yesterday was a very special day for those of us on the BC Children's Hospital Foundation Miracle Weekend team. We gathered for our annual Miracle Weekend Kick-off. For some of us “newbies” on the ChildRun Committee, it was a really great opportunity meet other Miracle Weekend volunteers and personalities.

This year is Miracle Weekend’s 25^th Anniversary. But what have we learned?

A lot, thanks to your generous support over the years!

20 years ago: A child with Cystic Fibrosis would survive to an average age of 18
Today: That child will survive to an average age of 35
20 years ago: 90% of childhood cardiac surgeries were high risk
Today: 90% of childhood cardiac surgeries are low risk
20 years ago: Childhood cancer beat “us” 80% of the time
Today: 80% of childhood cancer patients go on to live a long life

One of the biggest changes, though, is that 20 years ago, families of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients had to wait at home or in the waiting room as their child received treatment. Today we welcome families at the bedside 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. What a difference this makes to everyone involved!

We also had the joy of meeting this year’s Miracle Weekend Child Ambassador, Lindsey Lourenco. This brave young woman is battling cancer for the third time. She’s a true inspiration to all of us with her strength, grace and sense of humour! Thank you, Lindsey.

It’s great to look back to see what has changed over 25 years, but there’s still more to be done. Please make sure you get involved in Miracle Weekend so we can keep improving healthcare for children!

Join ChildRun (a family fun event on June 3) as an individual, a family, a school or a team - or volunteer your time.

Help us make this – our 25^th year – a success! I hope to see you on race day.

Tune in to The OCEAN Radiothon for Kids

Thu, 10 May 2012 12:15:46 -0700

Thursday, May 10 and Friday, May 11 tune in to the 10^th annual Ocean 98.5 Radiothon for Kids in Victoria by listening to 98.5 FM on your radio or stream it online at www.ocean985.com.

The live broadcast - from The Bay Centre in downtown Victoria - goes from 6:00am to 6:00pm each day. There will be some amazing stories of courageous Vancouver Island families who have come to know Children’s Hospital extremely well.

This year’s Radiothon is very excited to welcome back Asher de Geest! Asher was born at 32 weeks with gastroschisis - a birth defect in which the abdomen doesn't form completely and the intestines are partially outside of the body. He was immediately taken to BC Children's Hospital's NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) where he remained for more than a year of his life. Asher has had three major surgeries and “tons” of smaller procedures according to his mom. After 13 ½ months in the hospital, Asher finally went home March 10, 2009. Asher continues to grow and catch up on his developmental milestones and his overall health continues to improve. To hear more about Asher’s incredible story, tune in Thursday afternoon.

Last year’s Radiothon raised over $158,000 for BC Children’s Hospital that went towards the most urgent needs of the hospital including equipment, research, programs and services. We are looking forward to building on that total this year and ensuring our province’s kids have a bright future! Be part of this year’s annual event by joining the Club at $18 a month - just 60 cents a day! Donate online now!

Fundraising and ChildRun: Youth and Energy

Wed, 09 May 2012 08:49:08 -0700

This is a guest post by Heather Cadenhead, a fourth year student in Kinesiology and Health Science at the University of British Columbia. She initially began volunteering with the hospital because of the time she spent there as a patient. She describes her stay as leaving her forever grateful to the doctors, nurses and volunteers that used their knowledge and expertise to help her through her stay. She thought giving back to the health community in the same way would be a rewarding and amazing opportunity. After a couple of months volunteering, she joined JAC.

‘JAC’ stands for Junior Auxiliary Committee to BC Children’s Hospital. It is a youth-driven volunteer-based committee founded in February 2006 to serve as an adjunct to the Auxiliary to BC Children’s Hospital. The main goal of JAC is to implement fundraising activity ideas for the hospital as well as enhance the experience of volunteers. We continue to try and support the Senior Auxiliary by helping with other Auxiliary endeavours and other special events.

Last year was the first time JAC organized a team to participate in 26th annual ChildRun to help fundraise for childhood cancer research and other treatments at BC Children’s Hospital. A BC Children's volunteer team seemed like a great way to integrate our two main principals, bringing volunteers together while fundraising and bettering child health care. Race day was a great success and volunteers raised a total of $2,665.

This year we hope to expand our team and beat last year's fundraising efforts by raising $3,000. We continue to raise awareness and look for new fundraising initiatives that will reach out to the community. This year we held a bake sale and had a fantastic assortment of baked goods. The event was not only a fun and delicious idea, but helped raise $300 for our Children's Hospital volunteer team.

Fundraising Tips for ChildRun Teams

I would start by thinking of an event that you enjoy - when you are having fun while trying to help others it will translate into the best overall experience for you and your team. Secondly, I recommend using social media tools. Blogging and promotion via the internet are effective means of sharing information with family and friends about when, where, and how you will be fundraising. You never know, someone might just like the idea so much they will offer to help! And, last but not least, be creative! There are so many fundraising methods that have not yet being explored. Some examples can be through sports teams, social events, and music festivals…the ideas are endless!

If you would like to contact the Junior Auxiliary or participate as a member of our team, please do not hesitate to email us at bcchjac@gmail.com. We're excited to talk about some of the fundraising activities you have in mind!

Celebrating Moms

Thu, 03 May 2012 07:00:00 -0700

Celebrate Moms and support BC's Kids with the Mother's Day Campaign

Kelly is a mother who believes in miracles and the power of Mother's Day. She and her husband, Derek, are the parents of an incredible little boy Jaden. At six weeks of age and weighing only seven pounds, Jaden underwent what was expected to be a routine surgery for a congenital hear defect. However, an unexpected complication caused Jaden to undergo a much longer and more complicated surgery and the possibility of another surgery loomed.

At Jaden's five-month checkup, Kelly and Derek received tremendous news. Jaden's leaky valve had repaired itself and he would not require a visit to BC Children's Hospital again until he is two-and-a-half years old.

Kelly looks forward to a celebrating Mother's Day this May 13 with her courageous and inquisitive toddler. To help support mothers like Kelly and sons like Jaden, BC Children's Hospital Foundation's Hospitality Committee has worked with some fantastic restaurants throughout the Lower Mainland on the Mother's Day Campaign. These partner restaurants will donate partial proceeds of meals during Mother's Day weekend to BC Children's Hospital Foundation. Whether it's a celebratory brunch, or a divine dinner, choose one of the partner restaurants, enjoy time with your mother and support BC Children's in the process. For more information go to www.bcchf.ca/mother-s-day-campaign.

Kids Raising Funds for Kids

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:02:37 -0700

It’s the time of year when Sunny Bear visits schools in the Lower Mainland, educating students about the hospital and ChildRun. Recently Sunny Bear stopped by Queen Elizabeth Elementary School, and boy were the kids inspired!

Each of the kids in grade three thought about what they would like to sell to raise money to help kids with cancer, with fundraising efforts going to ChildRun. They decided that every Monday, Wednesday and Friday after school, for two weeks, they would sell their wares. They made $117 on their first day alone (Monday, April 23rd)!

If you’d like to help these great kids in their fundraising efforts, stop by Queen Elizabeth Elementary after school, at 4275 Crown Street in Vancouver, on Wednesday or Friday this week! Some of the stuff they intend to sell is: homemade jewellery, beading, stuffies, candy "popsicles", treat bags, Rice Krispie squares and knitted scarves.

We’d love to hear how you’re fundraising for this year’s ChildRun. Let us know at childrun@bcchf.ca or call 604-875-2444. We may even feature you on the blog, Facebook or Twitter!

If you’re looking for more fundraising ideas visit www.ChildRun.com and download the Fundraising Handbook!

Join our Jeans Day BBQ at the Vancouver Art Gallery

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:17:47 -0700

Join us this Thursday, April 26 at the Vancouver Art Gallery for our annual Jeans Day^TM BBQ lunch! We’ll be firing up the grill between 11:30am and 1:30pm and wearing our best denim to support kids in BC. Stop by on your lunch break and say hello!

This year’s event features lots of amazing talent to keep you entertained while you chow down on some yummy BBQ! Live music from Vancouver band Sideone and dance performances by Canada’s Got Talent finalist, FRESHH Hip Hop crew. Not to mention special appearances by Canucks’ Fin and BC Children’s Hospital’s Sunny Bear.

Lunch packages include a smokie or veggie dog, chips, drink and pasta salad and are only $5 with your Jeans Day^TM pin. Don’t have your pin yet? No worries! For $10 you can get a pin and lunch package to show your support.

If you can’t make it to the Vancouver Art Gallery we will also be having a Jeans Day^TMBBQ at the Children’s Hospital cafeteria between 11:30am and 1:30pm.

We’re looking forward to seeing you there; don’t forget to wear your jeans!

Bobs & Lolo Fundraising Challenge

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:14:58 -0700

Energy, music and motivation! That's what comes to mind when we watch Bobs & Lolo on Treehouse TV. This dynamic duo is dedicated to connecting kids to the natural world with music, movement and make-believe which is why we couldn't resist the opportunity to partner with them on a brand new fundraising project.

The Bobs & LoLo Fundraising Challenge for BCCHF is a Facebook fundraising campaign that you can customize with a personal message of support and then share with your friends. If your personalized fundraiser is successful, you could even win a prize. We've teamed up with the online fundraising experts at Fundrazr to bring fundraising efforts on behalf of BC Children's Hospital straight to your Facebook page. We have so many stellar supporters who write and comment on our Facebook page on a regular basis and we hope to continue coming up with original ways for you to support BC Children's Hospital.

Joining this special fundraising initiative is nice and easy. Just follow these four steps and jump over to the Bobs & Lolo Fundraising Facebook page:

1. Enter the challenge. We'll ask for your contact details to notify you if you win.

2. Kick off your challenge entry by donating. The more you give, the more your friends will give. (This is optional.)

3. Share your challenge entry on Facebook, Twitter and by email. Sharing is the key to fundraising success.

4. Every donation to your challenge entry helps a great cause. Plus, the more money you raise, the bigger your chances of winning a prize.

Bobs & LoLo are two of our favourite people and we're grateful for their energetic and interactive attitude toward fundraising. Their music always has audiences on their feet, singing and dancing. It's energy like this that we love to see at BC Children's Hospital! Happy fundraising!

BC Children's Hospital Foundation Cover Photos

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 18:31:37 -0700

On March 30th, 2012, Facebook turned over all Facebook pages to the new timeline feature. Timeline allows users to customize their home page and fill in their profile with events spanning their entire life starting with the day they were born.

Part of the new timeline feature is the custom cover photo you can add to your profile. Here at BC Children's Hospital Foundation, we've begun creating a series of cover photos for our online supporters. Please visit our cover photo Flickr album and download our Jeans Day banner. Or you can right click on the photo below for download.

Meantime, stay tuned for more cover photos that support Miracle Weekend and other hospital events.

A New Beginning

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 08:16:05 -0700

Meet Grace, a young girl from Maple Ridge who received a new kidney from her father, Dennis, in August 2010.

On Monday, it was Grace’s 7th birthday, and she chose to celebrate at BC Children’s Hospital. On this day a plaque was unveiled in the Renal Dialysis Unit to showcase how funds were raised by friends, family and BMO Bank of Montreal, in honour of Grace to purchase a brand new machine that helps process blood in a post-kidney transplant patient. Grace spent several days a week on a machine just like this after her kidney transplant, but it was a model that was severally outdated. Today Grace and her family were able to celebrate the new machine being installed, and their success of bringing more modern care to kidney transplant patients.

View Grace's Global TV story.

Happy Birthday Gemma

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 09:03:51 -0700

Recently one of the families we profiled through our Speaking of Children magazine reached an important milestone. Amanda and Charlie Bostik celebrate their daughter Gemma’s second birthday. While this seems like a rather typical milestone for a child to reach, for Gemma, this was considered almost impossible when she was born.

Gemma was born with a terminal neuromuscular disorder, and her parents have been working hard to give their daughter the best quality of life possible. Read more about Gemma’s second birthday. Read Gemma’s full story in our Speaking of Children magazine.

Read more on Gemma's birthday in the Richmond News: http://ow.ly/9vPan