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Kids Believe in SickKids - Our Stories

Our Story by Anthony Mascarin & Justin Bonfini

We wanted to do more rather then sit at home and wish we could do more. We figured with our power in music, why not use that to our advantage and do something really amazing.

SickKids has always been there for our families, friends and us - from life-threatening birth complications, diseases and illnesses. SickKids creates an environment for children that is unlike any other.

You can't put a price on what SickKids provides because it's absolute. We are very lucky to have a hospital like SickKids that provides such care and love. God bless SickKids. Watch Anthony and Justin talk about "Rock 4 Kids" here!

My Story by Tim Ridgeway

I first got interested in fundraising when I was in Grade 4 at Norwood Public School. I'd been a patient at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) when I was a baby.

My teacher, Mike Con, told me about a charity that was just starting in memory of James Birrell. James was a boy about my age, who lived in a town near mine, and who had died from a disease called neuroblastoma. I felt that James and I could have been good friends if we ever had the chance to meet, and fundraising for The James Fund became my focus.

I began with Mr. Con's help to plan a candy-gram sale at Valentine's Day. I started to think about how to start and my parents and my principal, Mrs. Gail Gillespie, chipped in with a start-up fund. That first year, we raised $115.72 for The James Fund at Sick Kids. Succeeding teachers and principals allowed me to continue each Valentine's Day to sell the candy-grams and to date, I have raised just over $1,000 for neuroblastoma research at SickKids.

In the fall of 2006, I will be entering Grade 8 at Norwood District Intermediate School and I hope to be able to continue fundraising through the Valentine's Day candy-grams and with perhaps some new and fun enterprises like school dances. I hope my efforts will help to cure neuroblastoma so other kids like James will have the chance to grow up and live healthy lives.

My Story by Kaitlynn Schildroth

My name is Kaitlynn and I am 16 years old. I am a competitive figure skater and ice dancer who loves to compete and perform in Ice Shows. I live in a very rural area about one and a half hours from Toronto. I have good health except for asthma and enjoy all kinds of sports other than skating. Back in 2004 I head about a little girl in Listowell who was very sick and has many down days being unable to enjoy sports activities that most of us just take for granted. This little girl had spent the first years of her life in hospitals and SickKids in Toronto was where she was being treated.

I enquired further into her medical condition. The unit that was responsible for her survival was the Gastro-Intestinal Unit on the second floor. I heard all about another special little area of this unit called Marnie's Lounge, a place for the kids to just be kids and forget about their pain for just a little while. You see, her mom and dad are my doctors; they help my community and me. I wanted to give something back, especially to the unit that saved her life. I thought that the best way to raise funds is to do what I do best, and that was to perform.

I created a skating charity event called "Kaitlynn's Blades in Motion." My first event was in 2005 where I figure skated non-stop for 12 hours and I raised over $7,000. In 2006, I decided to go bigger and involve more youth from my community. I put on a showcase and called it "Miracles on Ice" where I showcased high school broomball games, guest figure skating performances including Canada's own and my good friend Chris Mabee. I also had high school girls and boys hockey teams place a fun game.

In two years I have raised over $11,700 for the GI Unit and Marnie's Lounge. I truly believe in my charity's motto "Kids Believe in SickKids." For there is no describable feeling down deep inside that you get when you know that you can make a difference. Until last year I had only heard about SickKids. I had watched specials on TV but then I visited the hospital. I was overwhelmed and speechless at its size and as I stood in the main lobby and looked up, I knew that no matter what amount was raised by Blades in Motion it was going to a very worthy cause. I couldn't even begin to imagine that somewhere on every floor and room there was a little girl or boy receiving the best medical care possible. It's all about kids helping kids. Like the Kids Believe in SickKids program, we all must believe and have hope. More importantly for little ones depending on the hospital for survival - we all should do what we can to help.

Did you know?

High school students may use the time spent organizing an event towards their community service hour requirement.

Read about hosting events for SickKids here.

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