showing their best side
CHASE’S GIFT g n i v i G n o s Keep By Kelly Putter
In the words of poet Ralph Waldo Emerson, “The greatest gift is a portion of thyself.” Recipients of Chase’s Gift are many, thanks to the dedication and generosity of its creators. Chase’s Gift, a Burlingtonbased fundraiser, is a yearly event aimed at helping ease the financial burden for families whose kids are battling cancer, as many unforeseen costs come with such a diagnosis. Today, as its namesake Chase Sandy is 18 and getting on with his life, his parents continue to want to help those in need. “We saw how difficult the financial burden can be for families who have a child with cancer,” says Chase’s mother Tamara Sandy, a Staff Sergeant with Halton Regional Police Service, who with her husband started Chase’s Gift in 2014. “We were so lucky to have support at work and we wanted to give that back.”
Photo Credit: Christine Edison
114 | January • February 2024
As law enforcement officers, it’s not lost on the Sandys how their work environment rose to support the family. At age four and a half, Chase, the couple’s only child, was diagnosed with nephroblastoma, or Wilms Tumour, which meant he would need lifesaving surgery to remove his kidney. That would be followed by six months of chemotherapy – and surgery three months into his treatment. Chase’s parents are thankful that they could alter their work shifts so they could be with Chase every step of the way. That meant both mom and dad accompanying him to chemo treatments. That meant having expensive drugs and medical equipment covered by their work health insurance plans. Thankfully they had already employed a nanny (due to their shiftwork), which also allowed the couple to continue to work while Chase was cared for at home. The couple understands they have much to be thankful for and paying it forward is how they show their gratitude.
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