Brokers Who Care voted and we are pleased to announce that we will be sending a cheque in the amount of $10,000 to Shelly Thorpe and her daughter Heather, our Eastern Recipient of the 1st Quarter 2024 vote. Thank you to Monica Chrysler for bringing this Cause to our attention. The Nomination Story: Shelley experienced a tramatic birth of her daughter 26 years ago. Her daughter Heather had fetal distress and was without oxygen for several minutes leaving her with permanent brain damage. Heather has never walked, has never been able to sit up, or even feed heself. She is 100% at the mercy and dependent of others to care for her. She is aware of her surroundings, but trapped inside her body, trying to fit into society. Shelley has done everything a Mother could possibly give over the years, but her small home did not have the capacity to offer the care that Heather needed. When Heather turned 18, she went into a home care facility. Shortly afterwards the world turned upside down from the pandamic and Heather fell into a deep depression without having any visitors or even being able to get out for the day. Heather's immediate community worker has recently resigned, and she has been given an eviction notice from the facility as she is behind on her lodging and medical bills. Since Heather is in a special customized wheelchair, the only way she can travel is in a wheelchair assessible van, which they don't have funds for. Shelley and her daughter are extremely distraught because she is completely disabled and will soon have no where to live, unless they can catch up on these bills. Elevator pitch: Heather is unable to speak, walk, or take care of herself, but her spirit just loves to interact with others, or even hold the hand of a stranger. Heather and her Mom have been through so much, and now their difficult financial situation has landed an eviction notice from the lodging care facility she has been at for the past 4 years. Heather's brain damage at birth has left her at the mercy and care of others her entire life. The funds would help her to keep a roof over her head, continue with her care, and even help her to find a way to take a day trip out of the facility for even 1 day to the mall or beach this summer. She is trapped inside her own body, and her Mom has done everything a human can do to provide, but they need help....and I'm hoping and praying Brokers Who Care is the answer to their prayers....

Brokers Who Care voted and we are pleased to announce that we will be sending a cheque in the amount of $10,000 to The Nicholls Family, our Western Recipient of the 1st Quarter 2024 vote.  Thank you McKay Wood for bringing this Cause to our attention. Their Story: We were a happy and healthy family of four living in Lake Country. My husband Matt had started his own company in security system technology, I was a busy Mortgage Specialist and our two young children were going to preschool together. In July 2021 things took a turn once we noticed that our almost three year old daughter Rylie had developed a limp. This limp progressed and one day she wouldn’t put weight on her legs at all. After trips to two different emergency rooms, we were admitted to run further tests. Within a day and a half, we were being transported down to B.C. Children’s Hospital with an MRI showing significant disease in her skeleton. We found out on our seventh wedding anniversary, that our little girl, just shy of her 3rd birthday was diagnosed with Stage 4 aggressive Neuroblastoma. Our world stopped. Everything changed in that moment. Statistics showed that she only had a 50% chance of survival, and if she made it, would then have a 60% chance of relapse with minimal chance of survival. I had to advise my employer that I could no longer work as I had to care for my daughter full time. Our family decided to divide and conquer - my husband and my 4 year old autistic son at home, and Rylie and myself fighting for her life in Vancouver. She went through 18 months of intense, traumatic treatments for her cancer. This included 6 rounds of induction chemo, 12 rounds of radiation, multiple surgeries, two rounds of high dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplants, a trip to Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto for a month for high dose radiation contrast therapy, 6 months of immunotherapy and more. During her treatment we almost lost her a couple of times due to the treatment. But in January 2023 she rang the bell for being done treatment and cancer free. There wasn’t much joy however with the news as she had developed serious side effects during the treatment. Not only had she lost significant hearing, she wasn’t able to gain weight and had failure to thrive. The biggest concern however were her lungs. In November of 2022 she also lost her best friend Savanna, her twin flame who lost her life to the same cancer, Neuroblastoma. In 2023 even though she was done treatment, we were airlifted to Vancouver 5 times for lung related illnesses. We were able to go on her Make a Wish vacation in April before everything went downhill. In May, my children lost their grandmother, and I lost my mom. From cancer as well. She was only 66. The day after my mother’s funeral, Rylie and I were back in Vancouver for a lung biopsy to try to figure out what was going on. This procedure landed her in the PICU on life support and we were prepared that it may take her. But she pulled through. While we were in Vancouver recovering, my children’s other grandparents - my in-laws, lost their home in the Kelowna fires. This was devastating as their home was a safe place for my children. After Rylie’s stint in the PICU, we were able to make some more memories fortunately due to her resilience. We were able to go to cancer camp as a family, and celebrated her 5th birthday. She was also able to attend a few days of school in September. But by October, she was struggling more. And we were once again airlifted to Vancouver. Once she was strong enough she had a sedated CT, where we found out her lungs were in end stage failure. We made it to Canuck Place Hospice for some respite - but she knew it was her time. I told her Savanna and grandma were waiting and she took her last breath. Rylie’s life was remarkable. She is the poster child of B.C. Children’s hospital as her image is on buses, signs and all over social media. She battled every obstacle of her short life with grace. She is now at peace with no more treatments or hospital visits, but the rest of us will need a lifetime to recover. Rylie’s older brother Cameron by only 16 months has experienced more grief and loss these last couple years than any child should. And because of his grief he hasn’t been able to go back to school. He is needing counselling and therapies for his trauma. Matt’s still running his company but I haven’t been able to return back to work from being Rylie’s full time caregiver to her brother Cameron’s full time caregiver. We have experienced so much trauma and grief over the last couple years. But I do hope to use the heartache and grief and turn it into a life of advocacy, anwareness and philanthropy. I want to thank you all so much for taking my family into consideration.

Brokers Who Care voted and we are pleased to announce that we will be sending a cheque in the amount of $10,000 to Michael Hallett, our Western Recipient of the 4th Quarter 2023 vote. Thank you to Dustan Woodhouse for bringing this Cause to our attention. The Nomination Story: Many of you know this name, because Michael is an active Broker who shows up for our community on the regular, just last month volunteering to be grilled one-on-one at a CMBABC event. This could be written as a heartbreaking submission… This could be written as a rallying cry, rah-rah, submission… But none of our hearts need any more breaking, and I can confirm that Michaels spirit is not breaking. Nor are the spirits of his wife & their 16yr old son. An accident on Aug 31 put Michael on his back, and in the hospital, where he remains for some time to come. Limited movement, a ventilator, and a long road ahead are the current reality. But, he’s alert, and he’s all there from the shoulders up, although communication is limited by our (variable) lip reading skills due to the ventilator. This experience is coming at the Hallet family hard & fast, with many unexpected costs, the physical, the emotional and of course the financial. As prepared as each of us thinks we are for whatever life throws our way, sometimes we could still use a hand. Family and friends have rallied, levels of support for Michael, and for one another, have been amazing – more than anyone would expect. A testament to how much Michael has given to those around him throughout his 47 years. And while the path forward isn't yet entirely clear, one thing is – his new path will be an expensive one. Michael has been an amazing face for the Brokering industry, he has made us all look good. Now is the time to say thank you in this wonderfully meaningful way. Please rally for Michael & his family.

Brokers Who Care voted and we are pleased to announce that we will be sending a cheque in the amount of $3,500 to Houaida and Izzy, our Western Recipient of the 4th Quarter 2023 vote. Thank you to Crystal Mamchur for bringing this Cause to our attention. The Nomination Story: I am writing to nominate Houaida, a remarkable woman whose compassion and dedication have profoundly impacted the life of a young girl, Izzy (Isabelle) 12 years old. Houaida’s journey with Izzy began in the summer of 2016, when Izzy’s family moved next door. Houaida quickly bonded with Izzy, then five years old, and her mother, Brandy, who struggled with mental health issues and alcoholism. Despite Brandy’s efforts, her situation deteriorated, leading to multiple relocations and eventual homelessness. In January 2021, a critical moment arose when Izzy, in distress due to her mother’s condition, sought refuge with Houaida. What was planned as a temporary stay extended indefinitely as Brandy’s struggles continued. Houaida, recognizing the dire circumstances, stepped in to provide a stable and nurturing environment for Izzy, even securing legal guardianship to protect her. During this time, Izzy faced immense personal loss, including the passing of her grandparents and, tragically, her mother took her own life June 1st of this year. Through these hardships, Houaida has been a constant source of support and care for Izzy, who is now navigating the challenges of adolescence. Houaida’s commitment extends beyond emotional support. As an Indigenous child, Izzy faced the risk of being placed with an unfamiliar family if entered into the social services system. Houaida chose to care for Izzy independently, ensuring she remained in a familiar and loving environment. The challenges have been significant. Houaida lost her primary source of income earlier this year and has been striving to build a small business from home. Despite financial struggles, she prioritizes Izzy’s wellbeing, even at her own expense, and continues to care for their dog Bane, who has health issues. Houaida’s selflessness, resilience, and dedication to Izzy’s wellbeing make her an exceptional candidate for support from your organization. Her story is a testament to the power of compassion and the difference one person can make in the lives of others.

Kelsey is a mindfulness practitioner, yoga, instructor, and speaker. With a background in psychology, she worked as a mental health counsellor before completing her 200HR RYT yoga certification in 2015. In 2018, her life took a major shift when she was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer.  At 32 years old and a mother of two young boys, Kelsey went through a bilateral mastectomy, eight rounds of chemo therapy and 25 rounds of radiation, while chronicling her journey on social media. As Kelsey recorded her step-by-step cancer journey on Instagram, she created the hashtag #kindnesscures which encouraged people to go out into the world and do random acts of kindness. It was during this time that she discovered just how powerful her yoga practice was on the path to healing. Inspired to share her knowledge with others, Kelsey founded the Vibrant Yogi community. With online yoga classes, meditations and workshops, this group is an inspiring example of what can happen when we learn to make our well-being a priority. As a yogi, who had been through breast cancer herself, Kelsey understands the critical role that movement and mindfulness play in a persons well-being. Her doctors would tell her “Do Yoga!” but nearly all of the traditional, restorative yoga poses were extremely challenging post surgery/radiation. So, pairing with her passion for yoga, with her own experience, Kelsey started an online yoga class that she would provide free yoga session every morning at 10am. This was done for 60 days straight. When it was over people wanted more so she created a program with an all access pass. This was perfect for those yogis who are also craving a creative way to get back to their mats! She started the Get One Give One program to make sure these women have access to a supportive community, without having to worry about cost during this extremely challenging portion of their lives. With every vibrant Yogi purchase, she donates one year Vibrant Yogi app membership to a woman going through cancer. She also takes one dollar of every membership monthly and puts it towards a program she created which involves making kindness boxes and hand delivering them to women with cancer. During Kelsey’s chemotherapy, she did something called Cold Capping which is meant to preserve your hair during chemotherapy. Kelsey understands that when women go through chemotherapy and lose their hair, it's a loss of identity and femininity, along with the other stresses women go through during treatment. Cold capping is expensive and unattainable for many women going through treatment, so Kelsey has made it her mission to volunteer her time and proceeds to supporting and bringing cold capping to women. Kelsey has recently learned that her cancer has spread to other parts of her body. She now has stage 4 cancer in her lungs, her kidney and her liver. Regardless of recent developments, she continues to spread kindness into the world and posts on social media about love, positively and the importance of creating memories with your loved ones to continue the legacy she began at the onset of her cancer journey. Her husband Ryan has taken the next 6 months off of being a grade 5 teacher to be with his family during this small amount of time Kelsey has left. For all of the above reasons, it is why I nominate Kelsey Carignan and her family as they are most deserving of support to continue to put this kindness and positivity into our world.

Brokers Who Care voted and we are pleased to announce that we will be sending a cheque in the amount of $10,000 to Sarah & Ayden Hubbs, our Western Recipient of the 3rd Quarter 2023 vote. Thank you to McKay Wood for bringing this Cause to our attention. The Nomination Story: Last September as the Hubbs family settled into a new school year, they were filled with anticipation and excitement. Brielle was starting grade 4, Aubrey was embarking on her kindergarten journey, and Ayden was preparing for daycare as Sarah prepared for her full return to work. September brought a sense of renewal and the promise of new beginnings. However, their joy was abruptly shattered in October when the family received not just one, but two devastating cancer diagnoses. Sarah was diagnosed with Metastatic Papillary thyroid cancer after months of fatigue and finding a swollen lymph node in her neck. And then, the unimaginable happened. An ultrasound for a mass Sarah gel in Ayden's belly revealed a massive 15cm tumour. The imaging was so concerning that Ayden had to be admitted to Victoria General Hospital for an urgent MRI. Due to his young age, sedation and intubation were necessary for the test. Tragically, Ayden experienced a rare complication during intubation, leading to an immediate transfer to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit for critical respiratory support without completion of the MRI. While on the ventilator Ayden developed pneumonia and out of concern for his airway, he was kept in an induced coma on a ventilator while awaiting specialized air transport to BC Children's hospital in Vancouver. At Children's Hospital he could safely have the MRI and then be taken off the ventilator. In a matter of days, Ayden went from being a happy 16-month-old beach-loving baby, throwing rocks by the shore, to being in an induced coma on a ventilator. The suddenness of this, compounded by Sarah’s diagnosis left the family stunned and overwhelmed, engulfed in a cloud of uncertainty and fear. After nine long days in the PICU, Ayden was stable and transferred to the oncology unit where he was given his diagnosis: Stage 4 high risk Neuroblastoma with MYCN amplification and metastasis to his bone marrow. The tumour was wrapped around some major blood vessels and it wouldn’t be able to be surgically removed. But his expert team at BC Children’s hospital had an intensive 18 month treatment plan to give him the best possible chance at survival. Ayden embarked on the first phase of his cancer treatment, which included five rounds of inpatient chemotherapy and a 9-hour abdominal surgery to reduce the size of the tumor and insert a new central line. In between Ayden's second and third rounds of chemotherapy, Sarah underwent a selective neck dissection to remove her thyroid and 45 lymph nodes. Her oncologist closely monitored her progress to ensure optimal timing for radiation therapy, taking into account Ayden's critical needs and preventing progression of her own cancer. The second phase of Ayden's treatment involved two gruelling rounds of high-dose chemotherapy with tandem stem cell transplants. These seven rounds of chemotherapy brought about nausea, vomiting, hair loss, mucositis, painful skin breakdown, drug-induced pustular psoriasis, a blood infection, a gastrointestinal bleed, permanent high-frequency hearing loss, and over 130 nights spent in the hospital and required 26 blood transfusions. Once Ayden recovered from these initial phases, he and his family traveled to Houston, Texas for 12 rounds of Proton radiation, a treatment recommended by his medical team but unavailable in Canada. The treatment in Houston went well, but unfortunately, Ayden fractured four bones in his foot, requiring him to be non-weight-bearing in a splint for three weeks. Ayden has returned to BC Children's hospital for five rounds of inpatient immunotherapy and one round of outpatient immunotherapy. This final phase allows for shorter hospital stays, giving him more time to spend with his whole family at Ronald MacDonald House and at home. Sarah’s oncologist has advised her that now is the time to stop breastfeeding and complete her radiation therapy. This will require her to be away from Ayden for two to three weeks this fall. Jason, had no choice but to return to work recently so they can survive and will once again take a leave of absence to be the sole caregiver for Ayden during this time. Despite the challenges they continue to face this fall, the Hubbs family holds onto hope and determination. They express gratitude for their temporary refuge at Ronald MacDonald House, but their hearts long for the New Year in hopes they can finally return to their beloved Victoria home. Previously, their household thrived on the combined efforts of two full incomes, but that is unlikely for several years to come. With a mortgage renewal looming next year in a very different climate than the last, they will need to figure out a way to catch up on bills and to somehow in the future replace their savings which has been drained to take care of everyone. They will also need to ensure that Ayden and his sisters receive the necessary support to heal from the immense stress they have endured.

Brokers Who Care voted and we are pleased to announce that we will be sending a cheque in the amount of $10,000 to Lucas Martin, our Eastern Recipient of the 3rd Quarter 2023 vote. Thank you to Rocco Mongelli for bringing this Cause to our attention. The Nomination Story: The day our world was flipped upside down was March 1 2023 our 9 year old baby boy Lucas was diagnosed with leukaemia (ALL). In the months leading up to that day we had many hospital visits trying to figure out what was going on with our son as he was losing weight, looking pale and just wasn’t himself. After many blood tests and visits with specialists we were told he had a virus that had attacked his immune system and that it would run its course, until one day his feet were hurting so bad that another hospital visit had finally revealed Lucas has leukaemia. From that day forward our lives will never be the same, we spent the first 2 weeks at Sick Kids Hospital and Lucas had a port inserted on the right side of his chest where he received needles for bloodwork and chemo. We were told he wouldn’t be able to attend school to finish grade 3 or play the game that he loves, ice hockey. Lucas’s passion in life is hockey he plays rep hockey and was team captain for his Caledon AA team and to have that taken away from him was devastating. Lucas’ diagnosis requires him to receive chemotherapy on a weekly basis along with multiple blood tests and transfusions. Treatment is scheduled to to end in 2026 and as you can imagine this has put stress on our family mentally, emotionally and financially. My wife Valerie was able to continue working from home while caring for Lucas and our oldest son Matthew while I was able to continue managing my small construction business but after months of continuous hospital visits for treatments it had taken its toll. To add more to the mix, with her daily focus and mind being always on our little one, Valerie was diagnosed with anxiety and mild depression and decided it was best to take a leave from work to focus on caring for Lucas and applied for short term disability leave only to be denied based on her lack of medical history to support her claim. So we made Lucas the priority like any parent would, however, being a one income family in todays world is not an ideal situation. Lucas is a warrior and continues to fight this disease with everything he’s got. He will have to endure 3 years of treatment (chemotherapy)and countless blood tests, transfusions and lumbar punctures. The concern for infection from a compromised immune system is always a threat to his health and as such we have to be weary of visitors to our home. A simple fever can mean 24 to 48 hour hospitalization with antibiotic treatment. Lucas has good days and mostly bad days as chemotherapy leaves him feeling ill and depleted and spends most days after treatment lying in his bed. The morning Lucas lost his hair was a traumatic experience for him even though we talked about it happening he wasn’t fully aware or prepared for the clumps of hair left behind on his pillow. We have come to realize that taking this journey with Lucas is impossible without the help of faith, family, friends and community. We are truly grateful for any help that we receive.

Brokers Who Care voted and we are pleased to announce that we will be sending a cheque in the amount of $10,000 to Lisa and her daughter, our Western Recipient of the 2nd Quarter 2023 vote. Thank you Colin Dreyer for bringing this cause to our attention The Nomination Story: Having experienced the trauma of the Ft. McMurray Wildfires in May of 2016 – it was only a few short months later that Lisa was diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma, breast cancer in her left breast at age 36. She underwent aggressive treatment and received a double mastectomy in hopes she would have a healthy future and be here for Phoenix. She indeed was a warrior and fought hard through the myriad of both side and after-effects from the chemo and radiation, always with a determined yet positive attitude. Phoenix was just 6 years old having to witness this and be by her mother’s side during this courageous battle. Her Pathology was good. Prognosis was good, as were all the follow-up regimes. We celebrated her 5 year "No Evidence of Disease" milestone in April 2022. How proud we were of what she endured, battled, and overcame! Sadly, this was not to remain. This past February she learned the cancer had returned by metastasis during an unrelated routine ultrasound. Not only has this vicious disease returned, but it has now spread to multiple locations throughout her body. It’s now in her liver and several areas of her bones. After many tests, scans, and medical appointments we have learned the prognosis and it was not one she wanted to hear. No one is ever prepared to hear their time on this earth will be short lived. Nor is she willing to accept it. Lisa is 43 years old, a single mother to a 13-year-old daughter who needs her. She has a whole lot of life left to live. She will not surrender, it’s not her time. Although devastated by this news, she had her moment and has now picked herself up, dusted herself off and ready to stand tall and face this monster head on. She's just as determined to fight once again. "Not my first rodeo" she says, "the horse is just a little angry right now!" this is her journey, she’s in the driver seat and she’s taken the wheel. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy which is preventing her from working and is once again suffering from side effects of treatment. Recently being hospitalized for complications of treatment, and vitamin depletion. She will be off work indefinitely. Date indeterminate. We are organizing this fundraiser primarily to ease the burden of her financial obligations while having a greatly reduced income on disability, to cover extra medical expenses, treatments and to create experiences as time is so precious. Since her previous battle created financial hardship, we don't want her to have to worry about her finances. We want to lessen her stressors so she can focus on her fight and healing. Lisa has planned to attack this disease from all angles possible, she's also elected to include an alternative treatment, one that has proven cases of success, one that will hopefully extend her life, but one that is not covered by a medical program and is costly. We want her to be another success story. Lisa’s wish is to see her daughter graduate. She will change the want to she will see her graduate! With a positive mindset, hope, willpower, strength, love and support she will do this! What we are graciously asking for is time!! Time to create memories, time for experiences, more time with her daughter and loved ones and more time earth side. We want to alleviate any financial pressures due to medical costs, travel for treatments and give opportunities for her and her daughter to create memories. Lastly if Lisa, I, or anyone in our family have touched your lives in any way, this is where we humbly ask if you could please touch ours. We need your positive thoughts, strength, love, prayers, and support right now. Your generosity and kindness are so appreciated during this difficult time and mean the world to us.