Making a difference through The Great Camp Adventure Walk
On September 23, Carrie and her family will participate in The Canaccord Genuity Great Camp Adventure Walk for SickKids. As Team Free2Be, they are excited to give back to the hospital that has made such an impact on their lives. Carrie, mom to Emma, shares her SickKids experience and explains why participating in The Great Camp Adventure Walk is so important.
“I can clearly remember looking around the waiting room at SickKids, then 20 weeks pregnant with Emma, and thinking ‘how did this happen?’ Heart disease does not run in my family or my husband’s so how did our baby girl get it? Fast forward three plus years, one heart operation and dozens of echocardiograms and we are in it. We are not only in it, but some would say my high school biology course is paying off in dividends. I have learned more about the medical system and the heart then I ever cared to learn.
However, being on this side of the ‘experienced’ aisle, I often look at the scared faces of the pregnant mamas sitting in the cardio wing and want to say 'it will be OK.' I have been there and the unknowns are daunting. That is a side of the SickKids story you hear a little bit about, but not a lot. They not only treat your child, they treat the family. I can clearly remember Dr. Lee telling us the day of Emma’s heart procedure that she will take care of our baby. That in the world of cardio Emma’s procedure was considered easy and well-practiced. She is world-renowned and that is what you want to hear!
"As we continue on our journey with SickKids, I want to ensure that this hospital stays the best."
The Great Camp Adventure Walk is a great fundraiser that I can involve both of my kids in. As they get older, they are beginning to understand the importance of SickKids and the impact it has had on our lives. I can’t wait to be a part of such an inspiring day. Where Team Free2Be can have a lot of fun and feel great about making a difference.
We are a small team of four (two of them being under 5), but to date we have raised $2,800, primarily through our generous family and friends via social media. How can one resist a cute face (Emma’s) and a personal story? Our hope is to raise $3,000 by September.
September 23 is going to be an amazing day and Team Free2Be can’t wait to be part of it."
Interested in joining the fight for children’s health? There is still time to register for The Great Camp Adventure Walk. Join thousands for a fun-filled day in Downtown Toronto in support of SickKids. Learn more and register today by visiting www.walkforsickkids.ca
