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This May, I’ll be running in the 2026 BMO Vancouver Marathon to raise funds for Learning Buddies Network, a grassroots BC charity that provides free one-on-one reading and math tutoring to elementary school children who need extra support. 

At LBN, we call the children in our programs “Little Buddies.” They are referred by teachers, principals, learning support workers, and community partners because they are struggling academically and would benefit from consistent, caring, individualized support. Many come from families facing financial, social, linguistic, or geographic barriers that make paid tutoring out of reach. 

What makes LBN special is that our programs are not just about homework help. Each Little Buddy is matched with a trained high school or university student volunteer who becomes both a tutor and a mentor. Week by week, children build reading and math skills, but they also build confidence, trust, and the belief that they are capable learners. 

My connection to this work is deeply personal. I first joined Learning Buddies Network as a volunteer mentor in 2014, when I was 14 years old. As a shy first-generation immigrant child, mentoring gave me confidence, purpose, and the chance to see that I could make a meaningful difference in someone else’s life. Over time, LBN gave me opportunities to grow from mentor, to site coordinator, to program leader, to staff member, and eventually to Executive Director.

In many ways, I am a product of the same cycle of mentorship that LBN creates every day. Our programs help children build academic skills and confidence, while also helping youth volunteers grow into thoughtful, capable leaders.

This year, LBN continues to grow across BC through online, in-person, and hybrid programs, including partnerships with new schools, community centres, and Indigenous communities. We have also expanded Indigenous programming, developed new culturally responsive learning materials, and continued building the systems needed to keep programs free, consistent, and high quality.

Your donation helps keep this support accessible to families who need it most. 

A gift of $30 can support one hour of free tutoring and mentorship from a trained youth volunteer. Donations of $10 or more receive a tax receipt.

Thank you for helping us create a future where every child has the support they need to thrive.