Motorcycle for Miracles
On August 1, Bruce and his daughter Holly began an inspiring 9,400 km journey across Canada. The initiative, known as Motorcycle for Miracles, will raise funds in support of Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) and SickKids, which holds a special place in the hearts of Bruce and his wife Mary.
Bruce and Mary’s journey with SickKids began on November 17, 1998 when their oldest daughter, Alyssa Rae, arrived into the world. Diagnosed with omphalocele, a condition in which some of the organs are outside of the abdomen, the family knew they had a tough road ahead. Alyssa lived for 20 days, but in that short time, she changed the lives of Bruce and Mary forever.
Bruce and Mary would return to SickKids numerous times with their second daughter, Holly, as she needed multiple exams and two outpatient surgeries in the eye clinic to correct her double vision. It was during one of these visits that an idea began to percolate in Bruce’s mind.
“The fundraising idea had been brewing since Holly’s most recent eye surgery at SickKids. I found myself in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and visited the room in which Alyssa passed away in our arms in 1998 and I was struck by how powerful that moment … and that place … still is in our lives. We have always supported SickKids and CMN through the Miracle Home Program, but we wanted to do more.”
Bruce has always had a passion for riding motorcycles and has done numerous trips around North and Central America. When Holly began to take an interest in her father’s passion and asked if she could take a trip with him one day, the wheels started to turn in Bruce’s head. And when the Children’s Miracle Network representative from SickKids suggested developing The Alyssa Rae Johnson Fund through SickKids Foundation, the idea was solidified.
On November 4, 2013, Bruce and Holly left SickKids and began their first Motorcycle for Miracles adventure, which took them from Toronto to Costa Rica. Along the way they visited a number of RE/MAX brokerages (as Bruce works for RE/MAX), took part in Children’s Miracle Network fundraising appearances and also took the time to enjoy the food and the sites.
The first Motorcycle for Miracles fundraising journey coincided with what would have been Alyssa’s 15th birthday. For this year’s Motorcycle for Miracles journey across Canada, Holly is now 15.
“Turning 15 is pretty special. It’s when it starts to hit you that your little girl is becoming the amazing woman that she is going to be,” said Bruce. “You have that tug on your heartstrings that makes you want to slow down time and grab another chance to show your kid the world before she doesn’t want to hang out with her parents as much anymore.”
Bruce and Holly will visit all 14 Children’s Miracle Network member hospitals along their journey. This included a stop at SickKids on August 12.
Bruce will also meet with RE/MAX brokerages along the way to encourage participation in the Miracle Home Program, which provides Associates with the opportunity to make a contribution to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals with each home sold.
“I am so passionate about the Miracle Home Program where we automatically donate to our local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital with every transaction. One of my missions on this journey is to challenge every single RE/MAX agent to sign up or double up. So if you donate $10 per transaction, it flips to $20, $100 flips to $200, and so on. Imagine the cumulative effects!?! That is going to help a lot of sick and injured kids get better.”
August is RE/MAX Month of Miracles. It not only provides RE/MAX brokerages and agents with the opportunity to highlight the wonderful programs and support they give to Children’s Miracle Network and its member hospitals, but it also gives CMN Hospitals, like SickKids, the opportunity to say thank you to RE/MAX for all they do.
To Bruce and Holly: We wish you safe travels on your cross country journey. Your passion for SickKids and CMN is inspiring and for that, we thank you.
To all the RE/MAX brokerages and agents who are making an impact on children’s health through their fundraising initiatives … THANK YOU from all of us at SickKids!
“The fundraising idea had been brewing since Holly’s most recent eye surgery at SickKids. I found myself in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and visited the room in which Alyssa passed away in our arms in 1998 and I was struck by how powerful that moment … and that place … still is in our lives. We have always supported SickKids and CMN through the Miracle Home Program, but we wanted to do more.”
Bruce has always had a passion for riding motorcycles and has done numerous trips around North and Central America. When Holly began to take an interest in her father’s passion and asked if she could take a trip with him one day, the wheels started to turn in Bruce’s head. And when the Children’s Miracle Network representative from SickKids suggested developing The Alyssa Rae Johnson Fund through SickKids Foundation, the idea was solidified.
On November 4, 2013, Bruce and Holly left SickKids and began their first Motorcycle for Miracles adventure, which took them from Toronto to Costa Rica. Along the way they visited a number of RE/MAX brokerages (as Bruce works for RE/MAX), took part in Children’s Miracle Network fundraising appearances and also took the time to enjoy the food and the sites.
"We have always supported SickKids and CMN."
“Turning 15 is pretty special. It’s when it starts to hit you that your little girl is becoming the amazing woman that she is going to be,” said Bruce. “You have that tug on your heartstrings that makes you want to slow down time and grab another chance to show your kid the world before she doesn’t want to hang out with her parents as much anymore.”
Bruce and Holly will visit all 14 Children’s Miracle Network member hospitals along their journey. This included a stop at SickKids on August 12.
Bruce will also meet with RE/MAX brokerages along the way to encourage participation in the Miracle Home Program, which provides Associates with the opportunity to make a contribution to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals with each home sold.
“I am so passionate about the Miracle Home Program where we automatically donate to our local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital with every transaction. One of my missions on this journey is to challenge every single RE/MAX agent to sign up or double up. So if you donate $10 per transaction, it flips to $20, $100 flips to $200, and so on. Imagine the cumulative effects!?! That is going to help a lot of sick and injured kids get better.”
August is RE/MAX Month of Miracles. It not only provides RE/MAX brokerages and agents with the opportunity to highlight the wonderful programs and support they give to Children’s Miracle Network and its member hospitals, but it also gives CMN Hospitals, like SickKids, the opportunity to say thank you to RE/MAX for all they do.
To Bruce and Holly: We wish you safe travels on your cross country journey. Your passion for SickKids and CMN is inspiring and for that, we thank you.
To all the RE/MAX brokerages and agents who are making an impact on children’s health through their fundraising initiatives … THANK YOU from all of us at SickKids!
