Those who walk through the doors of Canuck Place Children’s Hospice find themselves entering a world quite unlike anywhere else they’ve been before. A beautiful and lovingly maintained garden surrounds the house, and inside you’ll find the home’s original turn-of-the-century structuring, a stunning stained glass window, wonderful aromas coming from an always-bustling kitchen, and most importantly, families and children from all over British Columbia whose lives are measured not by years, but by moments. It is because of the generosity of organizations like the BMO Vancouver Marathon that children and families facing life-threatening illnesses in BC can have these moments with each other, whether it’s a jam session in music therapy, a few bites of a Canuck Place cookie or a even an exhilarating ride down a zipline in the Okanagan. Canuck Place children and families live with courage, and our wonderful donors are the reason why!
“I will forever be grateful for all the services and for all the amazing staff at Canuck Place,” says Canuck Place mom Amy, whose 22-month-old daughter Gabrielle is on the Canuck Place program. “This facility is very near and dear to our hearts as it has provided such incredible care to Gabrielle, who was diagnosed at birth with a rare genetic disease called I-cell. It has been an incredible source of support for not only my daughter, but for our entire family. We’ve used the facility for family respite where my two sons have enjoyed playing with all the volunteers and connecting with the staff, and where Gabrielle has received some of the finest care from the nurses and doctors. As a family, we always look forward to visiting Canuck Place – it feels like a second home and we feel so blessed to have access to such a supportive community.”
Canuck Place parents Matt and Cherie feel the same way: “As parents of a child with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, we feel very fortunate to be on the program at Canuck Place. It’s a great source of support and respite, especially after long hospital stays with our daughter, Charlie-Anne. Charlie-Anne loves it here – she gets to participate in great social activities, play in comfortable surroundings and, of course, snack on the famous cookies. As a family we feel at ease every time we walk through the doors, and truly think of it as a home away from home.” Jennifer, bereaved mom from Kelowna, writes that her family, along with her son, Kaden, truly lived while on the Canuck Place program. “We created family memories and now have a beautiful album full of experiences that we otherwise would have not had, if we had not been given the opportunities that Canuck Place provided us with.”
Your donation to Canuck Place Children’s Hospice ensures that high-quality pediatric palliative care continues to be delivered to the BC community – and that kids like Gabrielle, Charlie-Anne and Kaden and their families have moments that will be cherished for years to come.
For more information, please visit www.canuckplace.org.
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