Balding for Dollars Report on Giving 2014

2013/2014 REPORT ON GIVING

Balding for Dollars

CELEBRATING 15 YEARS OF SUCCESS For 15 years, Balding for Dollars has been dedicated to supporting and enhancing the quality of life and care for pediatric oncology and hematology patients, and their families, in BC. Since its inaugural head-shaving fundraising event in 2000, Balding for Dollars has raised an astounding $4 million for oncology, hematology, and blood and marrow transplantation programs and research at BC Children’s Hospital.

With help from individuals and organizations across the province, Balding for Dollars touches the lives of many young people and their families, giving them hope through meaningful activities, and financial and emotional support. Your commitment has enabled Balding for Dollars to grow each year and, importantly, to maintain support for the children and families affected by childhood cancer and blood disorders who have come to rely on these funds.

Thank you for your commitment to making a difference. We are proud to report on the impact of your contribution over the past two years.

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BALDING FOR DOLLARS MAIN EVENT The signature Balding for Dollars event takes place at BC Children’s Hospital. Every year, brave community members from around the province show their support by having their heads shaved in exchange for pledges of support and donations from family and friends. Many volunteers come out in support of the event year after year; thanks to their efforts Balding for Dollars has become known as a fun family event, offering a carnival atmosphere, activities for kids, live musical entertainment and more.

The 2013 event was held on May 4 and attracted approximately 50 participants who had their heads shaved, raising $87,000. In 2014, the event took place on May 10, and had 74 participants, raising $84,000.

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INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING EVENTS Balding for Dollars is supported by a host of independent community events (ICEs) organized by caring individuals and groups throughout BC. Together, these events help to make Balding for Dollars successful year after year and have an enormous impact on the lives of children and families.

The format of these events varies widely – from head shaves at community centres, workplaces and schools, to bake sales, dinners and pub nights. In 2014, Balding for Dollars received support from a record number of independent community events. In the past two years alone, ICEs have collectively raised over $459,000 for Balding for Dollars!

BC Children’s Hospital Foundation is grateful to everyone involved – organizers, participants, supporters and donors – for your commitment and kindness. Here are some of the biggest and longest-running ICEs that took place in 2013 and 2014.

Balding for Dollars Whistler Balding for Dollars Whistler started in 2002 as what was planned as a one-off event. That year, the manager of Garibaldi Lift Co., Mike Varrin, graciously offered the use of a corner of the bar to host the event. It was an instant crowd favourite and since that day, a very strong following developed in support of the idea of shaving one’s head to help kids with cancer and, more specifically, kids with cancer at BC Children’s Hospital.

The rest, as the saying goes, is history.

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Over the years Balding for Dollars Whistler has become a mainstay among Whistler’s most anticipated fundraising events. For those who participate each year, the event is a way to show support for the wonderful services provided for children suffering from cancer and blood disorders. Over its 12-year history, Balding for Dollars Whistler has raised over $221,000 for children and programs on the hospital’s oncology ward.

Club for the Cure – SFU Balding for Dollars Motivated by the desire to make miracles happen, SFU’s Club for the Cure is a not-for-profit student-run club that makes a difference through raising awareness of issues surrounding cancer and blood disorders, cancer prevention and cancer research.

For the past five years, Club for the Cure has hosted an event for Balding for Dollars, raising over $22,000 in 2014 and over $85,000 since its inception.

The organizer in 2014, Christine Tolluch, is especially passionate as she is a cancer survivor herself. Christine was diagnosed with leukemia at age 19 and calls herself and everyone else with the disease cancer warriors.

Thank you, SFU’s Club for the Cure, for your steadfast support and dedication to making a difference!

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Bernie Ryan’s Daytona Party Bernie Ryan’s Daytona Party started 11 years ago when Bernie, a motorcycle enthusiast, realized that he could make a difference for kids with cancer. Here he shares his inspiration for starting the event:

“Of course throwing big parties is fun, but there’s a serious side to all of this. I happened to come upon the Balding for Dollars website a few years ago. There was a little girl, totally bald, with a big smile on her face (she was on the front page at the time). It struck me how much courage and heart she must have. Then I thought about this big party I was doing, and figured if I challenged the crowd (many are friends I knew from the Westwood Motorcycle Racing Club and local shop owners and riders), I could help these kids with a few bucks. $2,000 later, I was bald!”

— Bernie Ryan, organizer of Bernie Ryan’s Daytona Party Every year, the motorcycle racing and riding community comes together to support the Bernie Ryan Daytona Party. Highlights of the event include watching Daytona races, a silent auction and the shaving of Bernie’s head, the honour of which goes to the highest bidder; a motorcycle is also given away at the event. Bernie says you don’t have to have a direct connection to children or the disease to participate – he doesn’t have children or cancer – so anyone can do this. He is grateful to his friends, the volunteers who come out year after year, and the entire motorcycle community from across BC. To date, Bernie Ryan’s Daytona Party has raised approximately $132,000 for Balding for Dollars. Thank you, Bernie and supporters, for everything you are doing to help BC’s kids!

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Here is a list of some of our other notable Balding for Dollars ICEs and/or event organizers.

January to December 2013: ¢¢ Knights of Columbus ¢¢ Gleneagles Elementary ¢¢ GVMC – Ride for the Kids ¢¢ Howe Sound Secondary ¢¢ Squamish Balding for Dollars ¢¢ Costco, Surrey – Ron Dworsky ¢¢ UBC – Totem Park ¢¢ UBC – Place Vanier ¢¢ Polish Theatre ¢¢ BCIT

January to May 2014: ¢¢ Point Pub Balding for Dollars ¢¢ Polish Theatre ¢¢ Norco – Nick Geddes ¢¢ Mulgrave Secondary ¢¢ UBC – Totem Park ¢¢ Costco Surrey, Ron Dworsky ¢¢ GVMC – Ride for the Kids ¢¢ Kwantlen Park Secondary ¢¢ Cleveland Elementary ¢¢ Ecole Cedardale Balding for Dollars ¢¢ Animal’s Shearing ¢¢ Rryla and Ali ¢¢ Nathania Roy Balding for Dollars – Penticton ¢¢ Squamish Balding for Dollars

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KOURAGEOUS KIDS ART CALENDAR The Kourageous Kids Art Calendar features artwork by children with cancer and blood disorders, and their siblings, and includes photos, cancer facts and testimonials from doctors and cancer survivors. The calendar is sold through the Balding for Dollars website, at the hospital, and throughout the community by patient families and their supporters.

Art featured in the Kourageous Kids Art Calendar is usually created during hospital stays, at clinic visits or while patients are resting at home.

The calendar gives the children a sense of pride and accomplishment, and also raises awareness and funds for childhood cancer and blood disorders within our communities. From April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2014, the calendar raised $14,268.90.

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Ava DaSilva, whose art was featured in the 2014 Kourageous Kids Art Calendar, shares her story:

“My name is Ava and I’m 10 years old. I was diagnosed with aplastic anemia in June 2011. I love to dance and I can do the splits. I have one sister named Taylor and two cats that are sisters, named Pumpkin and Tootsie Roll. The cats are very special to me because I adopted them after I got out of Children’s Hospital. I’m doing really well with my aplastic anemia, and I just stopped taking my medicine.”

— Ava DaSilva

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COURAGE AWARDS The Greater Vancouver Motorcycle Club is dedicated to promoting the safe and enjoyable sport of motorcycling, both on- and off-road.

Members of the club regularly take part in motorcycle shows and charity events for local organizations, as well as riding for pure enjoyment.

Balding for Dollars is the beneficiary of one of the club’s events, GVMC Ride for the Kids. Funds raised go to support the Courage Awards, given to children with cancer or blood disorders, and their siblings, by the Oncology/Hematology team upon completion of their treatment. These awards are very meaningful to our patients and their families because they signify the end of treatment and recognize children for the courage they have shown throughout their medical journey.

“It was a very special day for Clara when her oncologist Dr. Caron Strahlendorf presented her with a Courage Award, which acknowledged the end of her leukemia treatment. Clara was five years old when she was diagnosed with leukemia and, two-and-a-half years later, we are thrilled that she’s reached this milestone. The award meant so much to Clara and our whole family, and we were touched when her younger brother Brennan also received a special sibling award. We enjoyed sharing this special moment with the doctors and nurses who mean so much to us. Thank you to Balding for Dollars and the GVMC Ride for the Kids event for funding the Courage Awards for the kids.”

— Andrea Howorth, Clara’s mother

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Clara Howorth and her oncologist Dr. Caron Strahlendorf at BC Children’s Hospital.

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As always funds raised through Balding for Dollars go to a variety of programs and services that support children and their families during and after treatment. Funds are disbursed to the areas below: Contingency funds/ miscellaneous requests

Bursaries and education programs

Family and patient support and outreach

5%

15%

WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES

15% Teen Adventures program

25%

20%

20% Promotions, administration and fundraising costs

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Research

Family and Patient Support and Outreach Having cancer or a blood disorder is tough enough for a child and their family; they shouldn’t also have to worry about finding accommodation, paying for medicine and supplies that aren’t covered by insurance, while dealing with emotional distress and other problems.

Balding for Dollars aims to ease the burden on these children and families by providing financial, social and emotional support. Funds are used to assist families with the purchase of medical supplies and equipment, provide wigs for children who have lost or are losing their hair as a result of their treatment, and organize fun outings for patients and their siblings, and more.

Research into Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders One of the major areas of focus at the research institute at BC Children’s Hospital is childhood cancer and blood research. Funds provided by Balding for Dollars support an exceptional group of researchers who are dedicated to finding better and safer treatments for children, minimizing the side effects that children experience and, ultimately, finding a cure.

After over 20 years of dedicated research the Transplantation Immunology laboratory at BC Children’s Hospital, led by Dr. Kirk Schultz, has become one of the top laboratories in the world for the study of rejection after blood and marrow transplantation (BMT). BMT is sometimes used to treat patients with leukemia, lymphomas and many genetic, blood, immune and metabolic diseases.

Dr. Schultz co-chaired the recent National Institutes of Health chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) consensus biomarkers group in June 2014. GVHD occurs when the newly transplanted donor cells attack the transplant recipient’s body after BMT. Dr. Schultz is confident that his research group will establish the first validated test in the world for chronic rejection after transplant, enabling doctors to predict which

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patients will be at risk of developing chronic GVHD and, therefore, avoid its onset. This will be one of the first major advances in BMT and will help to make it safer and more available to any child or adult who needs it. Promising discoveries like these are only possible with the support of donations from groups like Balding for Dollars.

Teen Adventures Teen Adventures – A Spirit Quest is an outdoor/wilderness program that is supported by Balding for Dollars and the Oncology/Hematology/BMT Program at BC Children’s Hospital. The program contracts excursion specialists to provide outdoor experiences for teens and youth, typically between the ages of 13 and 21.

Participating teens are cancer or blood disorder survivors in active treatment or on a maintenance program, or are bereaved siblings. Through safe activities and environments, teens have the opportunity to discover their personal potential, build self-esteem, develop new skills and even have life-changing experiences. Joining the teens are junior leaders, medical staff, support staff, excursion specialists and volunteers. These adventures provide a unique opportunity for all participants to connect with each other outside of the hospital environment and to build a community of support. The adventures may also provide a form of respite for parents and/or guardians.

Dan Mornar, a patient parent and advocate for oncology and hematology patients, and long-time Balding for Dollars organizer says: “I have marvelled and been in wonder at the excitement and fun that have been a large part of this outreach adventure program for teens and youth with cancer and blood disorders and their siblings.

“As one teen put it, ‘I really have enjoyed every Teen Adventure I have been on. So far I have learned how to surf, scream at white water rafting, sail a tall ship and ride a horse… I hope I can go on the salmon fishing trip next time. We have such an awesome time.’ Thanks to everyone involved.”

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Aidan Chin, a BC Children’s Hospital oncology patient, participated in a Tofino surfing trip on May 12-15, 2014, as part of Teen Adventures. He shares his experience:

“A fun and exciting new experience with the rush of the sea under your feet. A time where you have to learn to trust and be on your toes with the fun of games and befriending new people!”

— Aidan Chin

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“Thank you to all of the staff and volunteers at Balding.

You are helping to heal our kids and change the lives of children with cancer and their families.”

— Colleen Macey, mother of Caleb

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THE MACEY FAMILY’S STORY “The first contact we ever had was when Caleb was sent off ward because he had a cold. I called to get TV and a kind voice answered and told me to have a great day and enjoy our TV. I still can remember that voice making me smile in the midst of a nightmare. That’s what Balding for Dollars is to us – friendly, familiar people who want to make life easier for those who have to deal with this devastating disease.

“Our eight-year-old son Caleb was diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma and spent nearly a year in the hospital and we were touched by Balding for Dollars in many ways. We received food, gifts, visits from Dan and, unfortunately, even a fart machine that Caleb enjoyed way too much!

As our kids have become teenagers they have also attended the Teen Adventures, and both Caleb and his sister say it is one of the times when they feel the most normal. Being with other kids and siblings who have walked similar paths, they tell me no one gets them like other oncology kids. They bond, laugh and support one another. We are so grateful for these trips.

“We have also enjoyed the main event for many years. Each member of our family has shaved for the brave and we feel like we have been given a chance to give something back. It has also given the rest of us an opportunity to see how the world saw Caleb – the stares, the whispers and sympathetic looks. It reminds us how brave and courageous all oncology kids are!”

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Bursaries and Education Programs Balding for Dollars provides bursaries to support the education of survivors of childhood cancer or blood disorders who were or are being treated at BC Children’s Hospital. The amount of bursaries varies each year, depending on budget and amount of funds raised.

In 2013, a total of $37,000 in Survivor Education Bursaries was given to students attending the University of British Columbia, University of the Fraser Valley, Douglas College, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Okanagan College, Capilano University, North Island College, University of York in the UK, Langara College, Marymount University, College of New Caledonia, British Columbia Institute of Technology and the University of Northern BC.

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CATHERINE’S STORY Catherine Addison, 22, was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma in December 2005.

“Since my diagnosis at 13, I have been impacted by the incredible efforts of Balding for Dollars. I participated in the Teen Adventures trips and attended the annual head-shave events. Through volunteering with Balding for Dollars, I was told of a bursary that is given to students pursuing post-secondary education who have survived childhood cancer.

This bursary program was very much appreciated by me and my family as it eased the financial burden of my four-year education at the University of British Columbia, and paved the way for a smoother transition into the world.

“I have recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with a minor in English Literature. The bursary program shows how much Balding for Dollars cares about the well-being of all of its volunteers and the children and adolescents it strives to help through their battles against cancer, and the subsequent battles faced by its survivors as they recover and return to normalcy. Thank you so much to Dan, Suzanne and all of the other amazing people who have been so kind, caring and hardworking! I can’t express how much I admire everything you do.”

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THANK YOU

Thank you for your generous and thoughtful support of Balding for Dollars. Your contributions have a strong, positive impact on the lives of children and families who are affected by cancer and blood disorders, giving them the opportunity to enjoy life as fully as possible. We are grateful for your support.

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BC Children’s Hospital Foundation 938 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver BC V5Z 4H4 Tel: 604 875 2444

Toll Free: 1 888 663 3033

Fax: 604 875 2596

www.bcchf.ca