Children’s Wish/Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Canada, BC & Yukon Chapter
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Description
Children’s Wish/Make-A-Wish Canada does not receive any government funding and we rely on community support to grant over 120 wishes each year in BC & Yukon. We have brought light to the challenging lives of children and their families as they face the darkness of childhood illness. Wish granting is proven to have a noticeable impact on a wish child’s happiness and energy, and a positive effect on pain management, all of which contribute to healing and better quality of life.
Jacob’s Story
An active and athletic 13-year-old, Jacob was diagnosed with cancer of the bone which had spread into a 23cm-long tumor at the bottom of his left femur. Faced with a brutal and long treatment plan, Jacob soon learned he would lose most of his leg in an advanced and revolutionary surgery designed for cases like his.
The once-talented basketball player received a rotationplasty in October 2018. The surgery involved removing his upper leg and knee, leaving just 8cm of his femur, and reattaching his ankle joint and foot to the remaining femur, facing backwards. After rehabilitation and receiving a prosthetic, the ankle joint will assume the function of the knee, allowing Jacob to run and jump more naturally. The surgery wasn’t the beginning or end of Jacob’s battle – he has received multiple rounds of chemotherapy and methotrexate that have resulted in allergic reactions, nausea, and other life-threatening effects.
For the long term, Jacob says he wants to be a “survivor” and to continue to be an inspiration to people around him when he grows up. Jacob recently went on his European River Cruise wish trip with his family.
“Thank you so much, and so sincerely, for this opportunity for our family to be together, far away from hospital visits and physio appointments, and life in the world of cancer - to just be together and enjoy each others company and make beautiful memories as a family.” –Jacob’s Mom
We are inviting runners to register and help us grant the exceptional wishes of kids like Jacob.
When you join team Children's Wish/Make-A-Wish you will have access to useful training and fundraising tools using the online Race Roster platform, team t-shirts, and awesome incentive prizes & contests.
