I am in awe of the incredible community here at Kids Cancer Care, of our kids and families, board, staff and volunteers. This community truly works together to support every child and their family in body, mind, and spirit.
It’s amazing to hear the kids’ stories and how they’ve healed, made lifelong friends and learnt new skills. These young people have also contributed to research, mentored other kids, discovered their purpose in life and given back to their community.
Our Gratitude Report demonstrates the many ways your support touches the lives of Alberta children and families impacted by cancer.
YOU are the magic-makers of this community.
With gratitude,
Tracey Martin Chief Executive Officer
LIVES TOUCHED IN 2024-25
With your help, we continue to realize our mission of helping young people and their families survive and thrive in body, mind and spirit
research & hospital support BODY
YOU
are
helping to advance life-saving research and care through clinical trials
With your support, Kids Cancer Care is partnering with the Alberta Children’s Hospital and the University of Calgary to improve access to clinical trials through the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Experimental and Novel Therapies EXcellence (PHOENIX) program.
Clinical trials are essential to advancing research and developing new therapies for children with high-risk cancers. Unlike adult cancer trials, children’s cancer trials rely heavily on philanthropy. Representing about 1% of the total cancer population, childhood cancer does not offer pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies much potential for return on investment. We need your help. By supporting research, you are helping the PHOENIX team double the number of clinical trials, offering hope to children whose cancers do not respond to conventional therapies.
PEER exercise
YOU are helping kids rebuild their bodies and restore their spirits after cancer
My child has gained confidence and feels a sense of community at PEER. He loves all the volunteers and there are a variety of great activities throughout the year.” — Parent
♥ 95 KIDS benefitting from 376 hours of exercise, helping them to manage the deconditioning effects of cancer and restore their strength, balance, endurance and flexibility.
what our families are saying about PEER exercise:
♥ 100% of parents felt that their child was safe and well supported at PEER
♥ 100% said they would recommend PEER to others
“My kids just get to be kids at PEER. They get to have fun while moving and exercising their bodies and it’s a safe, inclusive and adaptive environment.
— Parent
♥ COLLABORATING with 15 local organizations, (e.g., UCalgary, Eleva8 Lacrosse and Calgary Rowing Club) to promote healthy living beyond PEER, helping kids integrate regular activity into their lives and develop fundamental movement and sport-specific skills.
♥ EXPANDING the reach of PEER , partnering with the Kids with Cancer Society to offer the program in Edmonton so kids up north have a chance to be active.
♥ 95% indicated that PEER improved their child’s ability to participate in physical activity
education & scholarships MIND
YOU are giving children affected by cancer hope for a brighter future
Our daughter has improved in reading by leaps and bounds. At the end of last year, she was at a grade 3 reading level. This year, her assessment showed she was reading and comprehending at a grade 9 level.” — Mom
♥ 75 KIDS benefitting from 1,847 hours of tutoring and advocacy support, helping them develop academic competence while providing resources and support to help parents advocate for their child’s learning.
♥ 622 SCHOOL KIDS developing compassion and understanding for children with cancer through our Cancer in the Classroom program presented at schools across southern Alberta.
♥ 10 CANCER PATIENTS and survivors pursuing their dreams through post-secondary education, aspiring to be the next generation of nurses, social workers, lawyers, engineers and more.
Education Support Program is presented in honour of Steven Fowler, who loved learning and school. Special thanks to the Fowler family for giving kids affected by cancer a solid foundation for life.
The Derek Wandzura Memorial Scholarship is an endowed fund administered by the Calgary Foundation Our
special thank you to the Calgary Flames Foundation for supporting PEER!
♥ 91% said PEER improved their child’s confidence in their ability to engage in physical activity
♥ 86% reported that PEER inspired the whole family to participate in more physical activity and healthy behaviours
“Our daughter went from a 64% to a 75% in biology.
camp & outreach SPIRIT
YOU are shaping tomorrow's leaders
♥ 19 TEENS volunteering 532 hours and raising funds toward a service trip to Guadalajara, Mexico, developing a sense of social responsibility by shadowing health care professionals, learning about global health and supporting local outreach services in underserved communities.
♥ 19 TEENS developing vital knowledge and transferrable life skills through regular workshops on topics ranging from personal finances to self-esteem, personality testing, conflict resolution and post-high school preparedness.
what our families are saying about tutoring:
YOU are helping restore spirits and rebuild young lives in the wake of cancer
My daughter had such an amazing time at Camp Kindle. Hearing her talk about the activities and the things she tried — that she never would have otherwise — was fantastic. She really pushed herself, and said she felt so confident. She absolutely cannot wait until next year.” — parent
♥ 1,500+ KIDS and parents registering for our programs and services, enjoying precious family time and connecting with other families at our year-round camp and outreach programs.
♥ 379 KIDS affected by cancer building friendships, self-esteem and new skills at our year-round camps.
what our families are saying about camp:
♥ 91% of parents saw an improvement in their child’s self-esteem
♥ 69% saw an improvement in their child’s social well-being
♥ 84% saw an improvement in their child’s social interaction
♥ 53% saw an improvement in a specific skill set of their child
YOU are nourishing families and their well-being
♥ 100 HOME-COOKED MEALS nourishing 17 families and giving them one less thing to worry about as they juggle life’s demands while caring for a child with cancer.
♥ 1,000 pizzas bringing 100 families together during our weekly Pizza Nights at the hospital, enjoying a meal together and discovering they are not alone on their cancer journey.
♥ 60 kids and families benefitting from 130 hours of support with our social worker and child life specialist, developing healthy coping skills as they navigate the emotional side of cancer.
YOU are helping kids survive and thrive
When Derakhshan and Sajad first came to Canada as refugees, they never imagined that a far greater heartbreak was on the horizon. Their baby girl Arisa would be diagnosed with a rare cancer. In a foreign land, miles away from family, they felt utterly alone and frightened.
Thankfully, with your generous support, Kids Cancer Care could be there for the Veysi-Karami family, connecting them to a healing community of families and programs to help them face childhood cancer from a place of hope and strength.
At about five months, Arisa started presenting with bizarre symptoms. “All night long her eyes were wide open and dancing all around — 24/7,” says Derakhshan. “She lost all her abilities, she could not walk, talk, eat or sleep. Her body was shaking and kind of jerking, and she lost her balance.”
Arisa was diagnosed with a rare cancer called neuroblastoma with opsoclonusmyoclonus syndrome. It was stage 3, and the tumour was just above her right kidney. After surgery to remove the tumour, she faced months of chemotherapy and serious side effects, including a brain bleed, stroke and temporary loss of vision. Arisa braved these treatments and medical procedures for five years.
“The doctor told us that if she survives, she will be handicapped — 100%,” recalls Derakhshan. “They said Arisa will never be able to eat anything by her mouth.”
The medical team planned to put in a permanent feeding tube, but Derakhshan and Sajad refused. They patiently fed her formula drop by drop until gradually she relearned to swallow and eat by her mouth. Then Arisa surprised everyone when she started walking and talking again at age five.
“She is our absolute miracle child,” says Derakhshan.
Along the way, the Veysi-Karami family discovered Kids Cancer Care. Thanks to you, each summer, the four Veysi-Karami children get a break at camp where they feel an instant bond and sense of belonging with the other kids. The friendships, resilience and skills they develop at camp sustain them through difficult times.
“Our kids got to go to camp last year,” says Derakhshan. “They couldn’t believe it! They enjoyed it so much; they want to volunteer when they get older. They want to be part of the team that brings so much joy to children.”
With your generous support, Arisa is also benefitting from our tutoring program. She and her tutor meet weekly to work on her literacy, math and learning skills.
“Arisa is behind cognitively and in school now,” says Derakhshan. “Kids Cancer Care offers us tutoring for our kids and lots of different programs. They are helping Arisa so much. It’s changing her life.”
Today, Arisa is a bright, powerful 12-yearold girl who is not only surviving but thriving. She’s feeling more confident, and her academic skills are also improving.
“My mom stopped worrying about me way less since we found Kids Cancer Care,” says Arisa. “Now everything is better, my grades are going up.”
“Our kids got to go to camp last year. They couldn’t believe it! They enjoyed it so much.
— Derakhshan
Arisa with her parents
Arisa during treatment
Arisa’s sister Arshida
Arisa’s brothers Ryan and Padra at camp
how to help
ways you can help
DONATE
Your one-time gift will help ensure we’re here to help kids affected by cancer in these uncertain times.
BE A MONTHLY DONOR
You can be a superhero in the life of a child with cancer. Your monthly gifts will add up over time and make a lasting impact in the lives of the children we serve.
DO A CAN DO for KIDS
A Can Do for Kids is a fundraising initiative organized by YOU, your school, your sports team, or your company. It can be as big or as small as you’d like. You decide.
Donate, register or learn more at kidscancercare.ab.ca today.
ROCK YOUR LOCKS
Show moral support for children who lose their hair during chemo and cut, colour or shave your lid to raise funds for our essential programs.
CYCLE
Join us for the Ride of Courage, July 11 to 13 Choose between 3-day, 2-day or 1-day rides or cycle on your own in the Flex Ride. Tour the Foothills by day and relax by the campfire at night.
COMMUNITY
supporters
♥ 394 VOLUNTEERS giving 18,051 hours to make our mission possible, saving the foundation $487,377 or the equivalent of 9 full-time positions.
♥ 9,148 generous individuals and companies donating to Kids Cancer Care and 317 donors making regular gifts through our League of Superheroes Monthly Giving Club.
♥ 8,740 PEOPLE participating in 72 fundraising events hosted by Can Do fundraising partners and Kids Cancer Care.
♥ 149 generous individuals and companies giving $8.61 M to make Camp Kindle even more magical and accessible for kids affected by cancer.
We expect to finish construction by October 2025. We can’t wait to share it with you.
“Our children loved camp so much and can’t wait to go back.
