Hunter’s 3rd Annual Pancake Breakfast
We had a wonderful turnout for Hunter’s 3rd Annual Heart Pancake Breakfast on Jan. 31/16 to raise funds for the Children’s Heart Network. People came from all over: the Tsawwassen First Nation and Delta community, some of Hunter’s teachers and EAs from Ladner Elementary, and of course our family and friends. Everyone stayed and had a great visit.
Hunter’s heart journey began when he was born with tetralogy of Fallot, a congenital heart defect. At 2 days old he had a shunt surgery to help increase the blood flow to his lungs. When he was strong enough, at 8 months old, he had open-heart surgery. As Hunter grows he will require more surgery. I am forever thankful to all the nurses and doctors at BC Children’s, including Dr Human, his cardiologist, and Dr Campbell, who performed his open-heart surgery.
The breakfast couldn’t have happened without to our wonderful volunteers Bertha Williams (homemade pancakes), Dawn Williams (cupcakes), Gordon Blackett (photography), and Auntie Nikki Jacobs and Tyler Schadow (decorating and organizing). Thanks to all their help we were able to raise and donate $1000 to the CHN!
Birthday Gift Donations
Chloe Isaac decided to do something very special for her 8th birthday party. In memory of her adored cousin Mila, she had her friends come and celebrate with her at Pony Meadows and suggested they forego bringing birthday gifts and instead make a donation to the Children’s Heart Network. Chloe’s friends and family raised $550.
Rhys Isaac had his 6th birthday at the Extreme Air Trampoline Park. Instead of bringing him gifts, he asked his friends and family to make donations to CHN in memory of his cousin Mila. Rhys and Mila are pictured here at a family barbeque in the summer of 2012. He raised $485! Rhys said he wanted the contributions to go to something that “would make Mila really happy.” The money he raised goes directly toward sending kids with congenital heart disease to summer camp.
For Will Hick’s 12th birthday, he invited 20 friends to play football, soccer, and British bulldog in a local park. Instead of gifts, he asked his 20 friends to bring a donation for the Children’s Heart Network. He has a good friend, Danielle Aitken, who had heart surgery when she was a baby. Will raised $620.
Lemonade Stand
Sister and brother team Louisa and Douglas Cassidy of Vancouver ran a lemonade stand to raise funds to support CHN. Louisa learned of the Heart Network through her friend Rhys, whose cousin Mila had heart disease.
Recycling with Heart
Tanya Lawes (mom to heart child Layna Lawes) noticed that lots of bottles and cans were getting thrown in the garbage at their family-run business Bridge Street Car Wash in Princeton, BC. So she put a special recycling box out with a sign telling their customers that all the proceeds would go to the Children’s Heart Network.
Pub Night Fundraiser
The Fountainhead Pub in Vancouver donated $857 from a recent fundraiser.
Jewellery Sales
Hege Bolthof Hoegler has sold well over 800 heart bracelets since she decided to do something to raise money for the Children’s Heart Network. These sterling silver heart bracelets are $15 and are available at CHN events or in the Heart Centre at BC Children’s Hospital. If you are interested in selling bracelets and necklaces in support of CHN, please contact Samantha at saitken@childrensheartnetwork.org.
Half Marathon and 5 km Run
Every year, the Children’s Heart Network participates in the Scotia Bank Half Marathan. In 2014, cardiologist Dr Shu Sanatani led a team that ran the half marathon while others participated in the 5 km run at Stanley Park. Dr Sanatani and his team raised $5332 for Children’s Heart Network.