Don’t forget to beat the heat and join Canadians across the country to celebrate Miracle Treat Day this Thursday, August 12. Cool off with a Blizzard® from Dairy Queen or purchase a paper balloon to help make a difference in the lives of sick children.

Miracle Treat Day is a one-day national charity drive that donates proceeds from its Blizzard® purchases to Children’s Miracle Network hospitals across the country. There has never been a cooler way to help children’s hospitals like The Hospital for Sick Children. All proceeds raised in northern and south central Ontario will benefit SickKids.

Last year, Miracle Treat Day raised more than $300,000 for SickKids! Let’s do it again this year!

For more information, visit: http://www.miracletreatday.com/ca!

Nope, not the icy snow storms but the Blizzards® from our friends at Dairy Queen!

August 12 is Dairy Queen’s Miracle Treat Day. What that means is that proceeds from the sale of every Blizzard® on August 12 will go towards your local Children’s Miracle Network hospital, including The Hospital for Sick Children.

We need your help. We would love for you to help us spread the word about the upcoming Miracle Treat Day. Tell your family, friends, teammates, sports leagues and neighbours that with the purchase of a paper balloon or Blizzard® on August 12 at DQ, they will be helping hospitals like SickKids!

Here are some ways to get involved:

· Tell your kids’ local sports association organizer about Miracle Treat Day and try to arrange a team outing

· Skip the wine at book club next Thursday and bring Blizzards® instead

· Have a cubicle party by preordering Blizzards® for your colleagues at work

· Avoid the calories and simply opt for buying a paper balloon

· Surprise your family on August 12 with an after-dinner treat at Dairy Queen

Most importantly, don’t forget to beat the heat and indulge in your favourite flavour of Blizzard®.

See you on August 12 at your local Dairy Queen!

Two years ago, a teenage girl made a wish to attend prom. She had missed hers while undergoing treatment at The Hospital for Sick Children.

Ellen Storfer and her family’s endowment fund, Turning Dreams into Memories, made this girl’s wish a reality. It’s a reality that has since become an annual tradition of a prom-like “After Hours Exclusive Teen Event,” which took place on July 8 at SickKids for the second year in a row. This year’s theme was, “A Night in Wonderland.”

For teens like Calandra Carkner, who have spent their evenings in a hospital room at SickKids, the “prom” provided something to look forward to and a distraction from their treatment.

“This event is just magical,” said Debra Carkner, mother of 17-year-old Calandra. “Even though she was going through treatment today, all her energy was focused on tonight. It’s amazing to have something that makes her feel like a teenager and makes her feel alive.”

To start off the memorable evening, teens enjoyed some pampering from hair stylists and makeup artists. They even got to choose from an array of funky accessories.

Once their looks were complete, patients headed to the prom-like event to enjoy a night of dancing, socializing and trying their luck at casino-style games. Joining the guests were a number of local celebrities, including John Ralston from Life of Derek, and Alyssa Reid and Jesse Labelle, singers on the MuchMusic SodaPop tour.

“I am truly overwhelmed by the experience,” says Ellen Storfer, whose family created the fund in memory of their spirited mother who lost her battle to cancer in 2005. “Meeting families like Debra and Calandra, who were so touched by this evening, made my family’s dream for the fund come to life.”

The goal of the fund, affectionately known as Dream Delivery, is to provide unique opportunities for chronic and long-term patients at SickKids. The “Night in Wonderland” was a testament to their vision.

The prom-like event was created in 2009 by the Child Life Department at SickKids, which aims to provide in-hospital experiences for children and teens through therapeutic play, encouraging self-expression, easing anxiety and enhancing coping strategies.

For more information on Dream Delivery or to make a donation, please click here.