The Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Support Group (CCCSG) annual Toy Drive is on now.
Volunteer Board Chair Naomi Fehr said new, unwrapped toys are accepted right now for the December 7th, Christmas party where families from across Manitoba come together to celebrate the season and have some fun and food, complete with Santa.
“We get about 50 in Manitoba per year who are diagnosed, that's throughout Manitoba. A lot of them are on treatment for a few years and so we open the event to anyone on treatment, off treatment, bereaved families. So, at our event right now we have about 200 people in total, I think 48 families that are attending. There are about three from the Pembina Valley area.”
Carson's story
Darlingford’s Dena LaBossiere said her son Carson was four when he was first diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BALL) an aggressive blood cancer.
“Candlelighters were actually one of the very first people we talked to, a connection we made right away at the hospital. They sent us a care package with information, and they let us know they were our new support group, and we were so thankful to have them in such a horrible time."
Her voice cracks slightly as she continues to describe the involvement they still have with the group.
"We do lots of events with them now. We keep connected with other families now and their kids. When we get together, we just get to forget about some of the things we have going on now. It never seems to go away completely, but we know that we have that support group, and it means a lot to us.”
The LaBossiere's spent many days in the hospital with Carson to begin with meaning many trips to Winnipeg. He received 2 1/2 years of treatment and and now has had two years off treatment.
"Now he is doing really good." LaBossiere shared cautiously, "But he's still being monitored at Cancer Care every few months, so we have lots of trips.
“Carson has been tough right from the get-go.” LaBossiere admired, “We were very lucky with him. We didn't have to fight him a lot on medications, and I think he just understood he had to do this. It was saving his life, and he knew it. So, he was just a trooper throughout the whole thing. And today he still is our tough guy. He loves playing soccer and lots of sporting activities. He has a little bit of residual effects, chemo, not too much, but you can see it sometimes. His movement isn't quite the same as other kids.”
Toys don't only impact kids
The impact of the donated toys goes beyond the kids.
“When you have a child going through something like this, it's a lot of strain on the parents financially and emotionally, and the donations kind of help alleviate that for us. Maybe we don't have to think about all those gifts and things quite so much, and especially if you're still in the hospital and stuff too, there's just no time for that kind of stuff and they're there for us. So, it's important to us.”
What does it look like for a kid to get these toys from Santa?
She described Carson getting the gift from Santa at the Candlelighter Christmas parties.
“I would call it magical, right? Little kids love Santa. But for these kids, they've gone through so much and I think for us to see them light up like that, it means a lot. We're just so thankful to have that.”
Donations allow Candlelighters to help in so many ways
Fehr is grateful for the support Candlelighters has received throughout the year, allowing many programs to support the children and families throughout the year. These gifts will go to cancer survivor children and their siblings.
“The Pembina Valley has been so kind to her organization, and we are just so thankful for the support we've received over the years."
She noted, she’ll be sure to post lots of pictures of the kids receiving their gifts.
Drop-off locations are:
Janzen’s Paint and Decorating
Canadian Tire
Renew Wellness Centre
LMS Ag Equipment
Friesen’s Insurance Brokers
Best Western Plus in Morden
Shear Bliss Salon and Day Spa