Ava credits “the who’s” in her life for making her the healthy, positive person she is today.

A SickKids patient since birth, there are many people – “the who’s” – who contributed to her healing: specialists, doctors, nurses, surgeons, family, friends and her community.

Ava is so grateful to all of them: “Without “the who’s”, I would not have easily overcome the challenges set before me so early in life.”

During a special ceremony at her elementary school on Wednesday, Ava was officially named the 2011 SickKids Champion Child presented by Walmart Canada. This program is a Children’s Miracle Network initiative to honour children who have overcome severe medical challenges.

The day after she was born, Ava developed a brain hemorrhage that led to a series of complications. She suffered from a stroke, seizures and hydrocephalus, which is the build-up of fluid in the brain. To relieve pressure in her brain, a portion of her skull was removed and she had to wear a helmet for eight years for precaution as she healed. Today, Ava has a titanium plate in her head to replace the missing piece of skull.

Ava’s mother Rose once told her, “Everyone has a story. It is what you do with it that makes a difference.”

Ava has taken her mom’s advice to heart. She actively fundraises for SickKids and has raised more than $14,000 to date. Her strong desire to make a difference coupled with her infectious spirit make her an excellent Champion for SickKids.

In October, Ava will travel to Ottawa and Orlando, Florida, to meet Champions from other children’s hospitals across Canada and the United States. She will continue her term as Champion well into 2012 by supporting Walmart fundraising initiatives for Children’s Miracle Network.

Thanks Ava!

When you go to the Toronto Zoo, what are your favourite animals to see?

Well now is your chance to see them and take part in an event for a good cause. Walk for the Children, a brand new event in support of the Herbie Fund, takes place on Sunday, October 23, 2011, at the Toronto Zoo.

The first-ever walk promises to be a fun-filled day for the whole family. Participants will enjoy an adventurous walk through the Zoo’s Indo-Malaya and African Rainforest areas, culminating with lunch, prizes and entertainment at the Savanna Picnic site.

Walkers will receive a passport that will be stamped at each exciting location. Once the trail has been completed, each participant will get a gift bag full of goodies!

Groups or individuals can register online and set up their own fundraising page. Prizes will be given to top fundraisers. A group registration fee of $125 includes up to two general admissions (ages 13 or older), up to four children (ages four-12) and any number of children under the age of three with adult accompaniment. Free parking is included in the registration fee.

You can also participate as an individual. Your $50 registration fee includes one general admission (ages 13 or older) and a $25 registration fee includes admission for one (ages four-12). There is no charge for children ages three or younger but they must be accompanied by an adult.

Remember, by attending the Walk you are supporting the Herbie Fund. The Herbie Fund fundraises to bring children from around the world to The Hospital for Sick Children for life-saving and life-altering surgeries. For many of these children, these surgeries would not be available in their home countries due to high costs and lack of medical expertise. To date, the Herbie Fund has helped more than 656 children from 101 countries around the world.

To sign up and start collecting pledges or for more information on this first-time fundraiser, please visit: www.herbiefund.com.

Cancer patients at The Hospital for Sick Children got the chance to rub shoulders with nearly 30 celebrities during the Rally for Kids with Cancer Scavenger Cup on Saturday.

The fundraising event invites participants who share a passion for exotic cars to take part in a scavenger hunt around the city with a celebrity navigator. SickKids served as one of the Pit Stops and is the recipient of the funds raised. This year’s Rally raised $3 million for the Hospital.

Jack White, 12, who has been battling cancer for more than nine years, spent some time with the celebrity chair of the event, Gene Simmons. The KISS rock legend and star of the television series Gene Simmons Family Jewels, co-chaired Rally for Kids with his soon-to-be wife, Shannon Tweed.

Jack was so excited for his moment with Simmons that he went out on a special shopping trip to find the perfect KISS t-shirt. Unfortunately, after four long days of chemotherapy leading up to the event, he wasn’t feeling well when the day finally arrived. Despite this, Jack insisted on sticking it out.

He waited patiently on the sidelines at the SickKids Pit Stop. His courageous story spread to parents and volunteers and it quickly became everyone’s mission to make Jack’s experience with Simmons a memorable one.

As soon as Simmons arrived, a path was carved through the crowd straight to Jack so they could spend some time together.

“It was really touching that everyone, including Gene Simmons, went out of their way to create this special moment for Jack,” Jack’s mother, Caroline, said. “He has undergone more than most people should in a lifetime, so we do anything we can to make him happy.”

Jack is now fighting his fourth recurrence of cancer called malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours (MPNST). The most recent tumour Jack has cannot be surgically removed so his treatment plan includes travelling to SickKids regularly to receive chemotherapy.

To date, Rally for Kids with Cancer has raised more than $8 million for SickKids. Funds raised from the event will support critical care, treatment and research for kids, like Jack, who suffer from cancer.