In 1986, when Christine McIver’s son Derek was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour, there were very few programs in the province to help children and families navigate the frightening diagnosis of childhood cancer. There were no Alberta cancer camps at the time, so Christine registered Derek in a B.C. camp. Seeing the smile on his face and the laughter in his eyes when he returned home, strengthened her resolve to build an Alberta cancer camp.
Christine wanted her son Derek to have a chance to be a kid again and she wanted to ensure other parents like her would not be alone in their battle with childhood cancer. Working as a volunteer out of her basement in the late 80s, Christine and a group of dedicated parents and volunteers set to work to build a support system for children and families facing childhood cancer. In 1991, this group established the first cancer camps in Alberta under the auspices of the Canadian Cancer Society. In 1994, Christine founded the Kids Cancer Camps of Alberta, an organization dedicated solely to helping children with cancer and their families. Recognized for the quality and diversity of their programming, these life-affirming camps are uniquely designed to meet the needs of the whole family at each stage in the cancer journey from diagnosis through treatment and even bereavement.
Buoyed by the success of the camps, the volunteers and staff of Kids Cancer Camps knew it was time to begin addressing the full spectrum of childhood cancer. In 1999, the foundation expanded its mandate to include funding of childhood cancer research and hospital programs. In 2008, the foundation established the first scholarship fund in Alberta for cancer patients and survivors. in 2015, Kids Cancer Care introduced an educational support program, to help young people build a solid base – socially, emotionally and academically.
Today, Kids Cancer Care is one of the largest childhood cancer research funders in the country. The foundation now offers more than 20 year-round and summer camp and outreach programs, along with education support program and services to Alberta families. Kids Cancer Care is one of only a handful of charities in North America dedicated to supporting the entire continuum of childhood cancer, fighting the disease on all fronts, with laughter at camp, the best treatments at the hospital and innovative science in the lab and brighter futures through education support and post-secondary scholarships.
Their programs are uniquely designed to meet the needs of the whole family at each stage of the cancer journey, from diagnosis through treatment and beyond. The foundation helps Alberta children and families by providing funding and programs in these key areas: Camp and Outreach; Research and Hospital; and Education Support and Scholarship programs.
ERA was thrilled to work with Kids Cancer Care for over a month in February fundraising money through our Moolah for Macros program. Our Moolah for Macros program is aimed to give organizations the opportunity to earn cash for collecting unwanted electronics while helping ERA continue to provide less fortunate Canadians with tech equipment. ERA and Kids Cancer care worked together to fundraised $250 that will go towards their internal programs.
As a non-profit, we know that sometimes it is difficult to obtain enough funding to support your programs. To help out, ERA offers an e-waste fundraiser program to benefit charities and other non-profit groups. If you would like to apply and learn more about this program, please go to the link here.
If you would like to learn more about this organization, please visit their website here.