At the start of 2020, the Young Ambassadors Program (YAP) were preparing to host their annual SHINE Mother’s Day Tea fundraiser, benefitting BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. But they were dealt an unexpected blow just weeks before the big day: COVID-19 forced the event’s cancellation.

Every year, about 50,000 Canadians, including children, will die suddenly because of a cardiac arrest. And 10 per cent of children with certain heart rhythm disorders are at high risk for sudden cardiac arrest—a condition where the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating 
and, if not treated within minutes, is fatal.

When Lisa Greczmiel’s youngest son developed strep A, she was shocked at how quickly the disease became serious.

On June 6 of 2021, three-year-old Ophelia laced up alongside her dad, AJ Delisle, to participate in the province-wide RBC Race for the Kids—a momentous occasion for any child so young, but especially for one who was born with Bartter syndrome, a rare kidney-related condition.

Traedan was only two years old when he was diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukemia. His family flew from Salmon Arm to BC Children’s Hospital in the middle of the night so he could begin treatment immediately.

“If we can help put a smile on a child’s face,” said Maria Giles, “that’s the whole world. They’re our future.” Maria is someone who knows a lot about smiles. In April 2021 she was recognized for 40 years of delighting customers as a team member of Save-On-Foods, an organization she loves to work for.

BC Children’s Hospital Foundation is delighted to share that Darrell Jones, President of Save-On-Foods, is the new chair of its Board of Directors.

Alfons Welchering loved to tell stories to a captive audience of family and friends. His gentle nature and sense of humour charmed those who he spoke to. Alfons’ 89 years of life were filled with unique experiences and stories of his own.

It all started with a simple fitness challenge and ended with a huge gift, inspired by a brave child’s battle with cancer, that represented a step forward in creating hope for cancer patients.

With a child’s scraped knee, the “boo-boo” can be cured with a kiss and comforting words. But for kids with cancer it’s not so simple—treatment requires months or years of care and lots of hardships along the way.