Submitted by: Mrs. Maria Tersigni-Wishart
The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board is once again proud to support the Choose Hope Art Exhibition, a meaningful initiative led by the Wish Heart Childhood Cancer Fund in support of MacKids. Throughout April, students across the HWCDSB created artwork to bring hope to families fighting cancer at McMaster Children’s Hospital.
I started this fundraiser seven years ago after having lived through a cancer diagnosis with my son Jack. He was only 5 months old when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. My family spent the next seven months living at Mac fighting cancer.
While we were in the hospital, it struck me how bare the concrete walls were. Schools have beautiful art everywhere, with bright colours and uplifting images. You walk down our hallways, and you feel the light and the love. I wanted to bring some of that into the hospital. The Choose Hope Art Exhibition simply asks that artists of all ages create art in any medium of their choice. Take a photograph and email it to the Wish Heart Fund. We take these photos and display them on our website, and create collages to hang on the walls of the inpatient and outpatient wards at Mac.
The impact is real. In the seven years we have been hanging art, countless families have reached out and expressed their appreciation. Even if the art brings a smile for just a moment, it makes a difference. Children should never have to fight cancer. Anything we can do to make that fight a little easier is worth the effort.
Schools across the HWCDSB also ran Superhero Days to raise awareness and fundraise. One hundred per cent of donations are used to help families fighting cancer. The money raised is used to bring joy to children fighting cancer, and donations received through Choose Hope and Superhero Days specifically support the two Slush Puppie machines on the oncology ward. Slushies are used to assist cryotherapy during chemotherapy treatments. Mouth sores are a common side effect of chemotherapy, and slushies help help prevent that. We bring joy and fight cancer with delicious frozen drinks!
By shining a light on the fact that sometimes children have to be brave and spend time in the hospital, we teach our students empathy and understanding. The Choose Hope Art Exhibition and Superhero Days are a small way for kids to make a big difference.
If you are interested in participating in Choose Hope, please visit Wish Heart Childhood Cancer Fund
.
Together we can do great things.
