Hot on the heels of the December Olympic Torch Relay event at The Hospital for Sick Children, SickKids patients and their families had the rare chance to see another Flame celebration last week.

Thanks to long-time SickKids supporter RBC and the City of Toronto, the Hospital hosted a special visit from the Paralympic Flame as it made its way to the official Paralympic Torch Relay celebration at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto on March 5. The 10-day, cross-country 2010 Paralympic Torch Relay will end at the Opening Ceremony in Vancouver to kick off the Paralympic Winter Games on March 12, 2010.

A procession of people from the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto (NCCT) arrived at SickKids with the torch, including First Nations Elders, drummers, dancers, jingle dancers, members and youth. The NCCT members were joined by patients, their families and staff in the Garden Patio at SickKids to participate in Native activities.

Multiple flames have been created by members of local Aboriginal communities in participating cities across Canada where daily Torch Relay celebrations are taking place. Ashes from each Flame ceremony will be collected and united in the final fire in Vancouver to kick off the official opening of the Games.

At the Hospital event, SickKids patient ambassador Erica Scarff, 13, said a few words to families, staff and her fellow patients before leaving for the official celebrations. She was selected to be one of two official RBC torchbearers for the event. As an avid gymnast, Erica discovered she had a rare bone cancer after she took a tumble during a gymnastics routine and broke her leg. She endured 11 months of chemotherapy and a partial amputation of her right leg.

Erica was kind enough to provide us with her inspirational speech:       

“Good morning. My name is Erica. I'm 13 and I had cancer.

I was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, an uncommon form of bone cancer, when I was 12. I had 11 months of chemotherapy and a modified amputation of my right leg here, at SickKids. I'm glad to say that I'm now in remission.

I'm very thankful for SickKids. Not only because I wouldn't be here without them but the fact that I received the highest quality of care. Although I was very sick when I was in the hospital the staff and volunteers always managed to make me smile, one way or another.

One particular event at SickKids that made me smile was when the Olympic Torch passed through. It was a very special moment.

When I was asked to carry the Paralympic Torch I was excited and felt honoured. I am proud to carry the Paralympic Torch, which I feel represents POSSIBILITIES.

I learned here at SickKids that everything is possible. The Paralympic athletes and torchbearers have showed us there is a way around every obstacle. I would like to thank SickKids, RBC, and The Native Canadian Centre of Toronto for making this possible!”

~ Erica Scarff, patient ambassador

Read more about Erica and her SickKids story here.

Photos taken by Robert Teteruck.

A baby’s first step, a couple stealing a kiss, an exquisite sunset - a photograph can freeze a single moment and allow a memory to last a lifetime.

To help capture the precious moments at The Hospital for Sick Children is a team of award-winning photographers, Diogenes Baena, Mark Sawyer and Robert Teteruck. Their work has appeared in numerous medical and scientific journals and publications including Life, TIME, Maclean’s and The Toronto Star.

Whether it is an event, portrait or action scene, the photographers at SickKids help to shape the look and feel of SickKids and SickKids Foundation through their attention to detail and artistic instinct.

On February 25 and 26, the Atrium at The Hospital for Sick Children will host a photo exhibition, inSight, to display the professional and personal photographic images from Baena, Sawyer and Teteruck. Please feel free to stop by during regular business hours to view the exhibit.

Here’s a glimpse at the photographers of SickKids:

Diogenes (Dodge) Baena: http://www.elementalview.smugmug.com/

While attending school at The University of Toronto, Dodge spent most of his time in the University’s darkroom instead of in his classes. He purchased his first camera, a Minolta XE-5, at the age of 17. He honed his skills in photography at Ryerson and accepted his first job in the field in his second year. While he has worked with a variety of cameras including the Olympus and Canon systems, if he had to choose just one it would be the 5MP Olympus E-1.

Working at SickKids is a dream job for Dodge. For him, it is emotionally and spiritually fulfilling. He feels as though he is contributing to the well-being of children in the best way he can.

“Walk to Paradise Garden” by Eugene Smith is Dodge’s favourite photo. A photo featured in the exhibit from Dodge pays tribute to Smith.

Dodge’s advice for capturing the perfect photograph: “Do not impose your will, your misconceptions and prejudices on your subject matter, be it portraits or landscapes. Be like a blank slate, so that your subject matter can write their own story.”

Mark Sawyer: http://www.marksawyer.smugmug.com/

Mark has practiced still photography for many years. He began taking photos in high school and contributed to his university paper. He has used many different cameras throughout his lifetime but currently relies on his Nikon. Mark tries to shoot everything in colour and then converts it to black and white if he sees fit.

Over the last four years he has produced videos for The Hospital for Sick Children. He said that it is rewarding to contribute to the treatment of children through clinical photography and videography that help train staff and highlight the Hospital.

Mark believes there is no ideal scenario for photography. He says you can capture a great shot just about anywhere, anytime as long as you have a camera – even if it’s on a phone.

Mark’s advice for photographers: “The most important thing these days is to take the time to compose and expose correctly in the camera because the computer programs cannot “fix” everything.”

Robert Teteruck: http://www.robteteruck.smugmug.com

Robert has taken photos professionally for more than 25 years. In addition to working at SickKids, Robert works on freelance assignments for a variety of organizations like Discovery Channel, Canadian Newswire Group, Metro Land Media and others. His work has been featured in the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA), the Archives of Ontario and the Art Gallery of Ontario.

Instead of focusing on a specific piece of equipment, Robert is more interested in the thinking behind the camera than the technology. He views the camera as a passport that gives you the opportunity to see places others don’t often get to see.

Robert believes that having the opportunity to do what he loves every day in such a special place like SickKids is an honour.

His advice for capturing that perfect shot: “The camera can be a really magical tool because in a sense it allows us to view the world through someone else’s eyes. I think having a sense of wonder and taking the time to really look at what’s around us is key.”

Toronto’s underground walkway, the PATH, will bustle with excitement this Family Day (February 15) for the inaugural Family Day Race for SickKids. Teams of families and friends will explore sections of the 27-kilometre PATH as they race to solve puzzles and brainteasers.

Groups of four to six people will receive a map to navigate through the underground walkway. They will decipher clues and fill in the blanks of a Family Day story related to The Hospital for Sick Children. They will compete to get the most points within a two-hour period by trying to solve as many puzzles as possible, all while raising money for SickKids Foundation.

To truly make this experience about family fun, the Foundation called upon some current and past patients of the Hospital, known as SickKids patient ambassadors, to help create all of the storybook answers for the puzzles.

These patient ambassadors and their families gathered at the Royal Ontario Museum this past weekend to test out some of the brainteasers and to brainstorm creative clues for the Family Day Race. Teams will use their clues during the official Race on Family Day.

The Family Day Race for SickKids is the first signature event of its kind for SickKids Foundation. The event will begin and end at The Design Exchange at 234 Bay Street. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the Race will take place from 10 a.m. to noon with a ceremony for the top-prized teams and individuals to follow.

Register today for this special event. Grab a few of your family members, colleagues or friends, sign up on the Family Day Race for SickKids website, and begin fundraising for your team!

Get started now!

Photos taken by Christy Sampson.