Stefano’s Stories: Every Little Bit Helps…AND🍦join me Aug. 14 for Miracle Treat Day!

With a little imagination and a sprinkle of generosity, people across Manitoba have helped kids who need care at Manitoba’s only children’s hospital.

In fact, last year, $1.4 million in donations has been given to Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba from bake sales, lemonade stands and modest community initiatives throughout Manitoba.

Thank you.

Thank you to the kids and families who put time and energy into inventive ways to help fund the purchase of equipment to care for kids who need it.

All of us at the Foundation are so grateful for the generous folks who support children who need treatment and care. We are astounded by your creative ways to fundraise AND have fun doing so.

For instance, the Candy Cane Sisters, Chloe and Molly spent the past holiday season collecting donations while handing out candy canes. Their efforts brought in $3,256 for Children’s Hospital. GingerCane, a gingerbread house building contest, raised $7,208. There is also a group of gamers in southwestern Manitoba who host the Gingerbread Apocalypse, a Warhammer game held every year in December. During the event gingerbread houses get smashed and Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba is rewarded for the destruction.

Then, there’s the Salo family who collect donations from their Christmas and Halloween light shows. Last year the Salo Family Light Shows brought in nearly $2,000!

Every little bit helps and I’m so grateful that so many people choose to give to kids who need hospital care.

Here’s another example…Summits of Hope, a group of people who climbed peaks in Patagonia who raised over $27,000!

Here’s one more. You must know Winnipeg has an incredible speed skating community. Every February the Manitoba Speed Skating Association invites people to Skate the Oval. At this annual event they collect donations in support of our Foundation, raising over $3,000.

Some community members fundraise to honour a loved one like Ireland’s family and owners of Willy Dogs. You might have seen one of their hot dog carts around Winnipeg. To celebrate Ireland’s successful cochlear implant surgery at Children’s in 2018, Willy Dogs sells specialty items in February with a portion of sales donated to our Foundation.

The list goes on and on.

For years, the Winnipeg Ghostbusters have been expressing their love of the Ghostbusters films by dressing up, attending events and collecting donations for Children’s and other charities.

And Voyageur Technical leads first responders and superheroes-in-training at the annual Suspended Superheroes event where fundraisers dressed as superheroes rappel down HSC Children’s for a special Halloween celebration for kids in hospital. Last year the Suspended Superheroes raised $50,000! Watch them spring into action on October 3.

All these initiatives help kids who need treatment at Children’s have the best care possible.

No matter what you love to do in your spare time, there are ways to make an impact for kids who rely on Manitoba’s only Children’s Hospital and our Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba.

To start your own community initiative to #ContinueCaringForKids visit goodbear.ca/fundraise.

One more thing. I love ice cream. Who doesn’t? Please join me on August 14 where your love of cool treats can help kids too. Proceeds from the purchase of every DQ ® Blizzard ® on Miracle Treat Day will help kids at HSC Children’s Hospital who need care.