The Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island, which has been offering summer day camps for children with special needs for over 20 years, is now offering day camps for siblings who are not physically or emotionally challenged.
This unique summer day camp, held on the grounds of Queen Alexandra Centre for Children’s Health, allows siblings to attend camp with other children from families who are experiencing similar circumstances.
“Our son Evan, 14, has been going to camps for children with special needs for about six years,” says Sue Robinson. “It is the highlight of every summer for him.”
But his nine-year-old brother Kieran felt left out because he couldn’t go along.
Last year, Kieran finally attended a day camp specifically geared for siblings, put on by the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island. He got to meet other children in similar circumstances — and have fun.
“It’s like a support group for kids,” says Robinson. “They share a commonality with each other that can’t be found in other camps.”
Island Savings Credit Union is donating $5 toward the camps for every person who attends the grand opening of their new Jubilee location on Saturday (no banking transaction necessary).
The camps cost parents $175 per session, with special dispensation for those unable to afford the fee.
For more information, go to childrenshealthvi.org.
Hospital campaign gets $1-million gift
The B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation’s $200-million capital campaign is $1 million closer to its goal with a recent donation by the Colonel Harland Sanders Charities.
The campaign is to support the construction of a new B.C. Children’s Hospital. With the timely donation, the total raised so far this year stands at more than $165 million.
“I have seen how the services of B.C. Children’s Hospital improve children’s lives,” says Bill Karny, vice-president of Harland Saunders Canadian Charities and a Vancouver Island resident. “We are pleased to support the great work that the hospital does and I am proud to extend the Colonel’s philanthropic spirit with this donation.”
The Colonel Harland Sanders Charities has a long history of giving, giving support to more than 20 children's hospitals in North America. For more information on the B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation, go to bcchf.ca.
PosiTie sales go for a cause
ChariTies was recently started by a group of business students at Royal Roads University. Charities is a social e-commerce website. They support a local charity, The Positive Living Society of B.C., by selling of fashionable clothing accessories.
They recently announced the arrival of their featured product — the PosiTie. It is a self-tie bow tie that is a symbol of support for those living with HIV/AIDS. All profits from the sale of the PosiTie will go toward The Positive Living Society of B.C., a registered non-profit society based out of Vancouver. The society is dedicated to empowering those persons living with HIV/AIDS through mutual support and collective action. It currently helps 5,100 HIV-positive members. The silk bow ties sell for $20. For more information, go to wearcharities.com.
495-km run starts in Port Hardy
Running and helping others are Yana Hempler’s biggest passions in life. To do both she has created a fundraiser called Run for their Lives, an ultra-marathon of 495 kilometres to raise funds for the B.C. SPCA, Recreation Integration Victoria and The Mustard Seed.
The run, along the length of Vancouver Island, starts Monday in front of Port Hardy town hall.
“I am extremely passionate about fitness and helping others,” says Hempler, a recent graduate who has been running since the age of 11. “I train very hard and I see this run as an opportunity to use my passion to help three great community organizations and make a difference in the lives of people and animals that need a helping hand.”
Individuals can donate online at bit.ly/VKvL0R.
Aim: Great strides against CF
Join people across Canada in the fight against cystic fibrosis by lacing up your sneakers and registering this week for the nimnth annual Great Strides walk, held next Sunday. The event is put on by the Victoria Chapter of Cystic Fibrosis Canada.
There are currently 61 people being treated for the disease in Victoria, 22 children making use of a pediatric clinic at Victoria General Hospital and 39 adults at a clinic at the Royal Jubilee Hospital.
The walk is three kilometres and is suitable for all ages. It is stroller and pet friendly. People will be treated to entertainment and a barbecue at the end of the walk. May is Cystic Fibrosis month in Canada.
Registration by donation. Registration starts at 9 a.m., walks start at 10 a.m. at the Royal Roads University, 2005 Sooke Rd. For more information, go to cysticfibrosis.ca/greatstrides or call 1-800-378-2233.
New playground is school’s goal
The Quadra Cedar Hill Community Association is asking people to help Cloverdale Traditional School raise money for a new playground by donating to the school’s first Scrap Metal Drive. Everything metal is accepted: old barbecues, filing cabinets, bicycles, lawn mowers, car parts, wheel rims — even nails and screws.
People are asked to bring the scrap metal to the school’s front parking lot on Saturday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. People unable to attend on Saturday can drop off their scrap at Schnitzer Steel, 307 David St., Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. before June 15.
Be sure to ask them to donate the proceeds to the Cloverdale Traditional School Parents Advisory Council.
People without scrap metal can help by returning and donating the proceeds from empty bottles at The Bottle Depot. Before returns are rung through, let them know the money is to be donated to the Cloverdale Traditional School Parents Advisory Council.
