REFLECTIONS

Getting Involved

In her own words, Cristina Milite reflects on her remarkable efforts in raising funds and awareness for child and youth mental health and community wellness

CRISTINA MILITE DURING A PIZZA CHALLENGE AT A WHEELS FOR WELLNESS CHECKPOINT.

While I don’t have many regrets, I always wish that my brother could have experienced the Stollery’s care and innovation. My brother was born long before the Stollery existed, and his strong spirit gave us 33 wonderful years before leaving us. I can’t help but wonder how different things might have been if he had been able to access the expert care at the Stollery. All I can do is move forward and try to help others so that no one else has to spend time looking back.

This is why I donate my time and heart to Wheels for Wellness, a collaborative charity event put on by the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Mental Health Foundation. As a co-chair on the organizing committee, I help to put on this one-of-a-kind car rally that features unique mental and physical challenges at checkpoints all around our beautiful city.

I participate each year and trust me when I say, you’ll never experience an event quite like this — we’ve kicked field goals at Commonwealth Stadium, driven ETS busses through a driving course and trained like firefighters. And the best part is, you get to do it all while making a difference for two important foundations who split the funds in support of child and youth mental health and community wellness.

This year, I’m co-chair alongside three amazing people. Wheels for Wellness is set for September 26, 2020 (dependent on coronavirus guidelines), and our goal is to raise awareness and funds with the help of our participants and sponsors.

As a participant, I was able to raise more than $4,000 in just 10 days through my network of friends, family and co-workers. I’ve learned that it’s not always easy to ask for help, to hold out your hand or to find a place to start, but it is easy to remember why you give back. And once you start fundraising, it just keeps getting easier. Share your why, focus on what would get your attention if roles were reversed, and start there.

Want to get involved in this unforgettable event? Learn more at wheelsforwellness.ca.

CRISTINA’S 5 WAYS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR WHEELS FOR WELLNESS

1

Host a virtual or in-person donation day at your company; turn cost for your services into a donation

2

Host a virtual or in-person party, event, tournament or games night and ask guests to BYOD (Bring Your Own Donation)

3

Leverage your social media platforms; make videos talking about why you’re participating and how your network can help you

4

Google fun fundraising ideas to host virtually or in-person with friends or co-workers like “Wine Survivor” (Wine? You’re welcome!)

5

Ask someone to make a large donation to your goal in exchange for naming your team

Donate to honour a Hospital staff member or team who helped you when you needed it most.

Y ou r d ona ti on suppo r ts sp ec ia lized e quipment, t ra in i ng, re se ar ch an d pro gr ams at the Hospital.

Dona te today to ho nour y our Stolle r ifi c Ca r e Gi ver.

sto llerific .co m | #st oll e rifi c | 780.433.KIDS (5437)

Avery

Maskwacis, AB

Porter

Onoway, AB To all the front-line physical and mental health doctors, nurses and support staff, especially those caring for Stollery kids from backyards across Alberta,

thank you

for your dedication in the face of COVID-19.

Adelaide

Grande Prairie, AB

Cameron

Edmonton, AB