Sean Thomas was eight when he embarked on a mission to raise money for the oncology department of B.C. Children鈥檚 Hospital. There was no compelling reason, no family member or friend who had an illness that required treatment at the hospital.
It was simply something that he wanted to do to make a difference in the world, after he saw a poor man on the street and felt the urge to give him money.
But he didn鈥檛 want his giving to end with that gesture, and so he set about attaching labels to 100 cans which were distributed to friends, family and companies (including The Times), to be filled with spare change.
He called the campaign Kids 鈥楥an鈥� Help, set a goal of $1,000, and raised $1,500. The following year, $2,500 was raised.
Two years ago, Sean didn鈥檛 know anyone his age with cancer, and he learned from Ashleigh Gulkiewich, the philanthropy co-ordinator at Children鈥檚 Hospital, that cancer is a rare disease among children. Every year, one child in 8,000 under the age of 17 will develop cancer; that equates to approximately 130 new cases in children under age 17.
This year, Sean heads a team of 13 boys and girls, a few of whom have had a brush with health concerns that brought them to Children鈥檚 Hospital. The group gathered last week outside The Princess and the Pea bed and breakfast, where a garage sale was held in August, raising $1,350.
With Sean were Erin McPhail, Alexander Sol, Madison and Mathew Baines, Tenaya and Tamzen Trowell, Joon Hwang, Meredith Willows, Megan Bakker, Sarah Flitton and Dawson Kroeger. Jacob Sol was unable to attend the get-together with their mascot, Can Man.
All the children, whose ages range from eight to 15, are committed to filling three cans, and they are busy organizing a silent auction and talent show on Nov. 18 at the Murrayville Community Hall.
鈥淛ust because we鈥檙e kids doesn鈥檛 mean we can鈥檛 help,鈥� Sean said.
鈥淲e all care, and when you care about something you can make a difference. You will be surprised how other people care about you and what you care about. When other people care and want to help, you become a leader.鈥�
Sean wants to encourage more people to help and become leaders, too.
鈥淚 believe to make a difference people have to care about something.鈥�
His mother, Tammy, said that the group welcomes sponsors, silent auction items, and other children who would like to help.
Call 604 833-8772 if you can help.
Kids Can Help has already reached $6,500 towards its $10,000 goal. A large chunk of the money already raised came from the Vancouver law firm of Slater Vecchio, where staff held a coin drive which the company matched. The haul, Tammy said, weighed 800 pounds.
Online donations can be made at: http://www.bcchf.net/ise/main.cfm?ISE=KidsCanHelp.
