– by Doreen Marion Gee –
The mind’s power is boundless. The opportunity to hope and dream may have profound positive effects on well-being. Enter those angels of the Help Fill a Dream Foundation, staff and donors alike. With their magic wands, they sprinkle joy into the lives of children with life-threatening conditions. The long term life-changing effects of this extreme kindness we can only imagine. The magical support of the Dream team gives sick children a reason to keep going when the battle is endless. It could be the spark that ignites hope in a child’s life.
The humanitarian work of the Help Fill a Dream Foundation and their generous donors is a remarkable testament to the innate goodness of people. Since 1986, Help Fill a Dream Foundation has been spreading its wings over Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Craig Smith, the congenial Executive Director, proudly states that in 2013, they celebrated their 2,000th “Dream” for a sick child. “We touch an average of 60 to 80 families a year,” says Craig.
The Foundation assists children with life-threatening conditions (to age 19) with three different programs. First, they fulfil the dreams and secret wishes of children. It could be an adventure in Disneyland or a laptop full of software fun. Families are included in the “dream.”
Second, the Foundation’s Family Assistance program eases the burden when families are dealing with hospitalization of their loved ones. They provide funds for travel to hospital, accommodation and paying bills.
The third service is improving “Quality of Life,” supporting families returning home in any way they can: modifications to accommodate disabilities, learning devices, dancing lessons for a little girl, therapeutic horse-riding. When families are in hospital-crisis-mode, the Foundation angels work silently behind the scenes to provide “Emergency Packs” with food vouchers for a cafeteria or grocery cards.
“The magic of hope is the premise that keeps Help Fill A Dream operating!” reflects Craig. “Hope helps the healing process” is a tag line. The Foundation’s “ultimate goal is to give the children a reason to move through their illness.”
Emily Young is living proof of their success. At age 27, she looks back on her “dream” trip to Disneyland: “For those 10 days I was given not only a dream, but the gift of a real childhood experience. One that allowed me to just be a kid, not a kid with cancer.” The magic: “The assistance we were provided absolutely gave us hope. I think that they showed us some light and that everything just might, maybe, be okay. I think having those 10 days of pure happiness and joy really helped get me through my remaining treatments.”
Emily epitomizes the long-term positive impacts on kids: “Being a (Foundation) board member now gives me the opportunity to change someone else’s life. I guess you could say the Foundation continues to change and impact my life 20 years later.”
Seaside Magazine is the presenting sponsor of a fundraiser for the Help Fill A Dream Foundation on June 14th: “Taking It To The Street. A Road Hockey Charity Event” (http://tinyurl.com/mbl6ern). Sue Hodgson (publisher) was hooked: “Last year I met a father in our local community who told me about his daughter and how she had undergone a serious medical condition and how Help Fill A Dream came to their rescue.”
At the event, Kelley Slater will be presented with his “dream” of playing hockey in Europe with his team this summer. Lynda Slater describes her son’s life with cystic fibrosis: “Kelley’s day starts at 5:30 a.m. each weekday morning, beginning with the first of two inhaled nebulizer drug treatments and a chest physiotherapy regimen to loosen the mucus in his lungs. Both of these are performed morning and night and account for at least two hours of Kelley’s day, if there is no infection in his lungs.” Lynda is grateful for the long-term assistance of Help Fill a Dream: “Their generosity has been so great and very much appreciated.”
Craig Smith sincerely thanks the hovering angels who give so graciously: “Quite simply, Help Fill A Dream wouldn’t exist without the generosity of our donors.” They fundraise about 93% of their budget and the demand is steadily increasing. No donation is too small; everything helps.
Whatever the child’s situation or diagnosis, the Help Fill a Dream Foundation is there to embrace them with love, support and a gift of happiness. “We hope that while they are here, we make a difference in the time they have.”
And whatever the time frame, hope is still working its magic.
For details, visit www.helpfilladream.com or call 250.382.3135 or (toll-free): 1.866.382.2711. Photo by www.nuttycake.com.
