You don’t have to look far to find someone whose life has been affected by BC Children’s Hospital.
It is B.C.’s only pediatric acute care hospital, and services the one million children in B.C. and the Yukon.
One such story is that of Gabrielle Pinette, a spirited toddler who was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor in 2012 at the age of two.
Gabrielle and her mother, Christine, have spent much time during the past two years getting tests, therapy, treatments and emotional support at the hospital.
They know how it is to be away from home for extended periods of time while awaiting test results or having treatments.
They can attest to the well-known dedication and caring professionalism of the staff.
Last summer Christine and G’s (as Gabrielle is known) family and friends got together in Kelowna, where they live when not at Children’s, to give back to the hospital that has given them so much, and to help support other families who are going through the trauma of having an acutely or chronically ill child.
The event was called the Bubble Run, a 2.5- or five-kilometre walk/run to raise money for patient services and child oncology research.
It was a wonderful, uplifting day of solidarity for such a worthy cause.
This year, Christine and G’s relatives and friends in Williams Lake, where Christine grew up and still has many friends and family members, have decided to join the cause.
The “Team G” Williams Lake Bubble Run will be June 15 at 10:30 am, starting at the Save-On-Foods parking lot, going through the Stampede grounds and on to Scout Island, where there will be refreshments and, of course, bubbles.
For participants who only want to walk one way (2.5 km), rides back to Save-on will be provided.
Registration forms are available at United Carpet and BC Children’s will provide tax receipts for any donation over $20.
Donations will also be accepted at United Carpet or the day of the run or by calling Lynda Pinette at 250-302-9498 or Leigh Pinette at 250-392-2988, or e-mailing lgpinette@telus.net or lmpinette2@hotmail.com.