Do it for the Kids
Meet some of the children whose lives have been, and continue to be greatly impacted by research and the funds raised to support it.
Name: Mikaela Age: 14 Hospital: Stollery Children’s Hospital | Edmonton, AB
Meet Mikaela: Mikaela's journey at Stollery Children’s Hospital began when she was seven years old and diagnosed with scoliosis (a curvature of the spine). Soon after, she was diagnosed with a Chiari malformation, a condition where the brain presses into the spinal column.
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Name: Everley Age: 9 Hospital: CHEO | Ottawa, ON
Meet Everley: Just twelve hours after birth, Everley needed intubation and urgent resuscitation – a devastating moment for her parents. Transferred to CHEO, Everley spent her first three months fighting breathing difficulties, which led to her needing a tracheotomy. The cause of her breathing difficulties was eventually identified: and incredibly rare genetic disorder.
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Name: Lakelei Age: 3 Hospital: Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital | Saskatoon, SK
Meet Lakelei: Three-year-old Lakelei was only seven days old when she was diagnosed with a rare motility disorder. Her family knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy: Lakelei’s condition causes symptoms such as abdominal distension, vomiting and sensory sensitivities. But they knew they were in good hands at Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital.
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Name: Jack Age: 9 Hospital: HSC Children’s Hospital | Winnipeg, MB
Meet Jack: Jack was born prematurely at 26 weeks along with a twin brother, Jori. Sadly, Jori died at just 6 days old, and Jack struggled with hydrocephalus –abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that puts harmful pressure on the brain. To treat it, Jack needed several life-saving neurosurgeries.
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Name: Emma Age: 7 Hospital: Janeway Children’s Hospital | St John’s, NL
Meet Emma: Meet seven-year-old Emma. When she was born, Emma was diagnosed with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS), a rare genetic condition that can cause challenges such as progressive vision loss, kidney disease and developmental delays. But Emma’s condition doesn’t stop her from being her confident, sweet self every day.
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Name: Isabella Age: 8 Hospital: BC Children’s Hospital | Vancouver, BC
Meet Isabella: Isabella and her family’s world was turned upside-down when they discovered her stomach ache wasn’t just a stomach ache – it was cancer.
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Name: Milanah Age: 5 Hospital: Children’s Hospital | London, ON
Meet Milanah: At just 25 weeks into her pregnancy, Milanah’s mother Allanah found out she had no amniotic fluid remaining. She was immediately admitted to Children’s Hospital’s, where the care team was prepped to deliver Milanah. Following an emergency C-section, Allanah held her 25-week-old, 500-gram preemie in her arms.
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Name: Sloane Age: 7 Hospital: IWK Health | Halifax, NS
Meet Sloane: Sloane was a healthy, active five-year-old. Then one day, she collapsed while watching her brother’s hockey game, clutching her head and crying in pain as she lost movement on her left side. That day, her family’s world changed in an instant.
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Name: Sana Age: 16 Hospital: McKids | Hamilton, ON
Meet Sana: As a 15-year-old, Sana had a typical teenage life: school, sports, and hanging out with friends and family. But when the usually active Sana mentioned to her mom, Arua, that she saw white spots and felt like passing out while playing basketball, Arua knew right away something wasn’t right.
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Name: Claire Age: 9 Hospital: Alberta Children’s Hospital | Calgary, AB
Meet Claire: Living with cerebral palsy, Claire is unable to move or speak independently. But she’s intellectually intact and highly aware – a bright, sassy nine-year-old her family calls ‘Claire the Unstoppable’. Research funded by Million Reasons Run participants and supporters has opened up new possibilities for Claire.
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Name: Alfie Age: 4 Hospital: CHU Sainte-Justine | Montreal, QC
Meet Alfie: Alfie was born with a complex heart defect that needed six surgeries to correct: five on his heart, and one on his diaphragm. Going through it all, and seeing him so vulnerable hooked up to all sorts of machines almost broke his parents’ hearts. Almost.
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Name: Haven Age: 7 Hospital: Sickkids | Tronto, ON
Meet Haven: When Haven’s mom Karissa was pregnant, she went for a routine scan. That’s when she found out that Haven had a severe form of spina bifida – a birth condition where the spine and spinal cord don’t form properly, leaving a gap in the backbone.
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Name: Jake Age: 17 Hospital: Montreal Children’s Hospital | Montreal, QC
Meet Jake:
Everything changed for Jake in the summer of 2023. The 17-year-old high school student was experiencing symptoms of back and leg pain for a couple of weeks, but since he was training a lot, he thought nothing of it. Then he lost 30 pounds in a short period...
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It all starts with research
Research is the engine that drives a million changes for the health of every kid in Canada. Your contributions support the discovery of life-saving treatment that improve survival rates, quality of life and outcomes for children who are facing the most challenging health issues such as cancer, epilepsy, diabetes, congenital heart defects and life-threatening allergies.
Every day across Canada
5,000 children
need care
250 children
need surgery
So there's never been a better time to lace up and get active! Or donate today to help us uncover new cures and less invasive treatments through ground-breaking research and clinical trials.
Cross country power.
The donations you raise will help fund life-saving research at your local children’s hospital. From rare diseases to everyday illnesses, research is the first essential step for every kid in Canada to be a healthier kid which is why your efforts - and every dollar raised - matter.
Click any logo below to find out more about the research you are helping make possible at your local children's hospital.
