Canuck Place teen, Charlie-Anne is participating in her fourth BMO Vancouver Marathon!
Charlie-Anne has a neuromuscular illness Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) type 1. While SMA may prevent Charlie-Anne from walking, jumping on a trampoline, eating, and breathing independently, it has no chance with her humour and incredible spirit!
Charlie-Anne has been on the Canuck Place program for 13 years, where she and her family have received respite, counselling, recreation therapy experiences, and more.
As the only pediatric palliative care provider for children 0 to 19 in BC and the Yukon, Canuck Place walks alongside many families like Charlie’s, caring for children with life-threatening illnesses and the families who love them. Canuck Place services include medical respite and family support, pain and symptom management, a provincial 24-Hour Clinical Care Line, music and recreation therapy, education and art, grief and bereavement counselling, and end-of-life care—all at no cost to families.
Charlie-Anne, alongside her mom Cherie and stepdad Drew, are once again running and rolling 21km in the BMO Vancouver Marathon, raising funds for Canuck Place.
“Fundraising for Canuck Place is important to us because we feel good giving back to an organization that has given so much to us and to others,” says Cherie.
If you’re interested in helping Charlie-Anne, Cherie, and Drew raise funds for Canuck Place, join team Charlie’s Angels or support their fundraising efforts! They raised over $65,000 last year and hope to raise even more this year.
“Giving back to your local community feels AMAZING. Whether you’re directly affected or not. You’re supporting families in the hardest days of their lives,” says Cherie.
“We were told Charlie had three months to live when she was six months old. We were broken and completely overwhelmed. Canuck Place wrapped their arms around us and helped us navigate our way through the unimaginable. They still do. Canuck Place is a priceless resource that deserves all the funding and community support they can get.”
Watch their BMO Marathon journey here.