Our Story
September 17, 2020, was supposed to be Scarlett's first day back to school, an eager SK looking forward to being a mentor to her new JK classmates! It wasn't meant to be, instead she awoke that morning with considerable pain in her belly, enough pain that we knew it was serious enough to go to the ER. Later that afternoon we were advised to go to SickKids where we spent the next 10 days cooped up in a patient room, too nervous to go outside the room at the height of a pandemic. Little did we know this would not be the last 10 days we would spend there...
Following a number of visits back and forth to the hospital for various checks and procedures, it was December 4, 2020 we received the news that brought us to our knees; Scarlett had cancer! Scarlett was diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer, and we were starting chemotherapy the following week. Everything happened so fast, it was all a blur, and sadly we soon realized that childhood cancer was far more common that we had imagined.
We would spend the next 5 months as regular visitors to SickKids, and if it wasn't for the youthful energy and support Scarlett received from the Campfire Circle (formerly Camp Ooch) staff, it certainly would have felt much longer! Scarlett received many doses of therapeutic fun during her stays, and this undoubtedly contributed to her recovery. What amazes us most, however, is every time we return for routine surveillance, the staff immediately recognize Scarlett and greet her by name!
We'd come to realize that this therapy extended outside of the walls of SickKids too, through great virtual programs and overnight camping adventures. It is this dedication and support we received, that inspired us to participate in this year’s 2024 Sporting Life 10K run for Campfire Circle.
Our family would like to ask for your support to Campfire Circle for all of the wonderful work they do bringing laughter and joy to kids affected by childhood cancer.
Description
Help deliver healing through happiness to kids with cancer or serious illness and their families.
When a child is diagnosed with cancer or serious illness, it impacts the whole family. Kids miss out on simple childhood joys, household incomes are often cut in half as caregivers take on the full-time responsibility of caring for a sick child, and families struggle to make time for special experiences.
When you donate to Campfire Circle you are supporting in-hospital, community and overnight camp programs that create opportunities for children to build friendships and social skills, develop self-confidence and resiliency, and improve their overall well-being. Through play-based experiences, you are helping empower kids to take back their childhood, regardless of their medical diagnosis.
With your support, we can continue to offer our programs at no cost to families and grow our circle of care to provide additional play-based experiences across all four paediatric hospitals, and improve our medically supported and accessible overnight camps so that every eligible child can benefit from our innovative and impactful programs.
Thank you for helping to build a world where children thrive and families heal.
Help deliver healing through happiness to kids with cancer or serious illness and their families.
When a child is diagnosed with cancer or serious illness, it impacts the whole family. Kids miss out on simple childhood joys, household incomes are often cut in half as caregivers take on the full-time responsibility of caring for a sick child, and families struggle to make time for special experiences.
When you donate to Campfire Circle you are supporting in-hospital, community and overnight camp programs that create opportunities for children to build friendships and social skills, develop self-confidence and resiliency, and improve their overall well-being. Through play-based experiences, you are helping empower kids to take back their childhood, regardless of their medical diagnosis.
With your support, we can continue to offer our programs at no cost to families and grow our circle of care to provide additional play-based experiences across all four paediatric hospitals, and improve our medically supported and accessible overnight camps so that every eligible child can benefit from our innovative and impactful programs.
Thank you for helping to build a world where children thrive and families heal.
Team members
Click on one of our team members below to make a donation.
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Jason Aylsworth
Raised: $1,909.61
Team captain
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Marta
Raised: $802.85
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Cassandra Themelkos
Raised: $460.19
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Paul Themelkos
Raised: $215.26
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Anna Staszuk
Raised: $0.00
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Zoe Sian
Raised: $0.00
Recent donors
| Donation date | Donor name | Donation amount |
|---|---|---|
| May 08 | Anonymous | $54.24 |
| May 08 | Ava Avila | $107.91 |
| May 08 | Domenic Bonavota | Undisclosed amount |
| May 08 | Sandra Conde | $107.91 |
| May 08 | Paul Themelkos | $215.26 |
| May 08 | Cassandra Themelkos | $107.91 |
| May 08 | Cristina Diamanti | $54.24 |
| May 07 | Anonymous | $54.24 |
| May 07 | Anonymous | Undisclosed amount |
| May 07 | Devendra | $54.24 |
