Valley Vonka golden ticket countdown: Sweet treats for a great cause

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Originally published by the Comox Valley Record, April 25, 2025

Black Press Media Staff  – Comox Valley Record

Calling all chocolate lovers — time’s almost up!

You have until Monday, April 28, to turn in your golden tickets for this year’s Valley Vonka contest. This isn’t just a chocolate fix — it’s a treasure hunt.

Hidden in more than 3,000 bars made by Comox Valley’s own Hot Chocolates are five golden tickets, and at least three are still out there. The bars are scattered across participating businesses throughout the Valley, so your chances are still very real.

Need a place to start? You can still pick up Valley Vonka bars at Peninsula Co-op and Hot Chocolates — but don’t wait, they won’t last long. Each chocolate bar you buy supports YANA (You Are Not Alone), a local non-profit that helps Comox Valley families with children who need to travel for medical care.

Each golden ticket is worth between $780 and $1,000. Prizes include:

  • The Ultimate Relaxation Package: A luxurious stay at The Old House Resort & Spa, a delectable dinner at a local restaurant, and a family spa day (Value: $1,000)
  • A Healing Escape: Experience the magical Healing Caves at the Kingfisher Pacific Resort and Spa, an experience for four (Value: $780)
  • Save on Fuel: A Peninsula Co-Op Gas Card (Value: $1,000)
  • Shopping Spree Time: A Canadian Tire Shopping Spree (Value: $1,000)
  • Grocery Goodness: A Quality Foods Gift Card (for Comox and Courtenay stores – Value: $1,000)

So whether or not you find a ticket, you’re doing something great for your community.

Find gold, do good, and don’t forget — tickets must be turned in by April 28!

YANA Helps Comox Valley family after premature birth and B.C. journey

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Originally published by the Comox Valley Record, April 16, 2025

 Erin Haluschak – Comox Valley Record

Théodore Labrecque made an early appearance in the world this past December, and his birth gave his parents an expected adventure throughout the province, with help thanks to YANA.

Parents Rebecca and Jean-François Labrecque son’s birth took a surprise turn when he was born prematurely in the Valley.

The Labrecques went to the North Island Hospital Comox Valley, but due to complications, they had to find a neonatal intensive care unit.

“We were originally sent to Victoria, then Nanaimo and then Vancouver, but they were all full,” explains Jean-François. “As we were waiting in the hospital (getting ready to leave), a nurse came up to us and handed us an envelope from YANA with some money.”

The couple took an emergency flight transfer to Kamloops where Rebecca had a C-section; Théodore was born on Dec. 3, 2024 at 8:13 p.m. Because he was being monitored for jaundice and had to spend extra time feeding, the family was required to stay in the area for longer than expected.

Jean-François says in the original envelope there was a note from YANA that told him to contact the organization once the couple had settled with their newborn. He called YANA and, nearly right away, was transferred funds to help support the family for food and transportation, as they didn’t have a way of returning to the Comox Valley.

“Within a short time, I had a link to a car rental, funds for the ferry and for gas. We even had a stop in Pemberton with a hotel booked because we didn’t want to travel the whole way in one day with a newborn – everything was organized for us.”

He adds that both he and Rebecca are still in awe of the community’s generosity and how effortlessly the support came together.

“Rebecca knew of YANA from community fundraisers, but it is still amazing to see it (in action.) The nurse at the hospital just gave us an envelope, and overall (YANA) was so good as it saved us a lot of (expenses).

As for Théo, he’s been thriving and gaining weight just as he should. The family recently returned from a visit with loved ones.

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The Valley Vonka – a major fundraiser for YANA, is ongoing in the Comox Valley. Businesses throughout the community are selling chocolate bars (by donation) with the chance to find one of five Golden Tickets inside the bar. A Golden Ticket qualifies the redeemer to one of five grand prizes, values anywhere from $780 to $1,000.

Chocolate bars are available at:

YANA lives up to its name for Comox Valley family

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Originally published by the Comox Valley Record, April 9, 2025

Marc Kitteringham – Comox Valley Record

YANA stands for “You Are Not Alone,” and for the family of Henri Gayet-Hanachowicz, that couldn’t be more true.

Gayet-Hanachowicz is a 10 year old boy living in the Comox Valley. He and his family moved here in 2022 from Vancouver. He’s a happy kid, mom Alice Gayet says, despite needing to go back to Vancouver every few months or so and visit a series of specialists to help deal with a variety of health issues. Gayet-Hanachowicz was diagnosed with infantile onset of Crohn’s disease and infantile hyperthyroidism at the age of one. That led to a diagnosis at three of juvenile arthritis. That same year he had urgent eye surgery, and doctors discovered brain lesions. A few years later, he was diagnosed with a bone disease and psoriasis, among other health issues.

“Crohn’s disease for babies is extremely rare and aggressive,” Gayet said. “It’s a quite complex disease, and severe … Hyperthyroidism, when you’re an adult it’s okay, but when you’re a baby it can lead to developmental and intellectual delays.

“We were at the hospital quite a lot for this. Basically for years he has been on a combination of immunosuppressants, many of which were not approved for kids for a long time,” she said.

Gayet and her husband moved from France to Vancouver, where Henri was born. They made the move to Comox in 2022. BCFRP (BC Family Residence Program) told her about YANA and advised her to contact them. That’s when everything changed.

“I’d actually never heard about it, so I decided to call them,” Gayet said. “It wasn’t easy, because it’s not easy asking for help. I spoke to Kourtney (Van Velzen) there and she was so kind and empathetic and so supportive … it was a huge relief. I actually cried when I spoke to her.

“I was very shocked that people who never met us would help organize places for us to stay, help with expenses … we don’t have family here, they’re in Europe. It’s very lonely sometimes, and … to connect with this many people has been really transformative.”

Now, instead of worrying about where they are going to stay, eat, travel, how they are going to pay for it, they get to pay attention to what really matters: their son. Now, they try to find other things to do outside of Henri’s appointments, things like going to arcades and the aquarium.

“I got a strong little guy, and great support,” Gayet said, adding that YANA adds “emotional support, on top of the practical assistance, and the sense of community.”

“Every time we travel to Vancouver, there’s at least one moment when I just have a wave of gratitude,” she said. “It’s usually when we get off the ferry …  they really gave us a sense of community.”

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The Valley Vonka – a major fundraiser for YANA, is ongoing in the Comox Valley. Businesses throughout the community are selling chocolate bars (by donation) with the chance to find one of five Golden Tickets inside the bar. A Golden Ticket qualifies the redeemer to one of five grand prizes, values anywhere from $780 to $1,000.

Chocolate bars are available at:

You Are Not Alone assists Courtenay teen with scoliosis

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Originally published by the Comox Valley Record, April 1, 2025

Raynee Novak – Comox Valley Record

In September of 2024, after waiting for almost two years, Heather Kohnle received a call from BC Children’s Hospital that the much needed spinal surgery her daughter had to have was finally happening.

Brianna suffered from extreme scoliosis and had tumours on her spine, further exasperating her condition. She had to be taken to BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver for surgery to straighten her spine, insert two rods and 26 screws.

“She had been waiting so long, it just got so painful for her. She couldn’t walk anymore, she couldn’t sit in a chair anymore, her scoliosis was so bad because there’s a tumour in her spine,” shared Kohnle.

Kohnle needed to be with Brianna at the hospital while she had her surgery and during recovery, meaning she would be off work for almost three months.

“I’m a single mom, I”ve got two kids at home, I’m working full time and I had to take three months off,” said Kohnle.

When it came to the costs associated with travelling back and forth from BC Children’s Hospital and Courtenay, YANA stepped in and covered costs. There were many appointments and YANA was there every step of the way. Including helping Kohnle see her son who was back in Courtenay this whole time.

“Here’s my son back in Courtenay, having to live life on his own and start school with my mother’s support. It was so nice that YANA helped us. After two weeks of being in the hospital in September, YANA helped us get my mother, son and Brianna’s best friend over to Vancouver for a weekend.”

Finally, when it came time for Brianna to be discharged from the hospital, Kohnle was hit with a $610 bill for a back brace that Brianna had to have in order to leave. It would keep her spine straight and keep her from damaging the new rods and screws. While YANA couldn’t cover that cost, they found a charity that could.

“They reached out to two different charities and the second one paid the entire $610 bill for the brace for us.”

“YANA is the coolest thing ever. And since we’ve been home, they have facilitated check ups, getting us back and forth. I can’t say enough good things about them.”

***

The Valley Vonka – a major fundraiser for YANA, is ongoing in the Comox Valley. Businesses throughout the community are selling chocolate bars (by donation) with the chance to find one of five Golden Tickets inside the bar. A Golden Ticket qualifies the redeemer to one of five grand prizes, values anywhere from $780 to $1,000.

Chocolate bars are available at:

You Are Not Alone helps girl with seizure disorder

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Originally published by the Comox Valley Record, March 26, 2025

Raynee Novak – Comox Valley Record

Chanel Martin is busy learning the ropes of her daughter’s battle with seizures while keeping her life in order.

Carrera Wiesselmann started having seizures when she was just two. She was taken to specialists and put on seven different medications but still suffering from seizures.

“She was still having seizures, we couldn’t figure out why. That’s when we started going to BC Children’s Hospital and they were able to test her there,” said Martin.

It was during that stay at BC Children’s Hospital that Carrera underwent a week-long electroencephalography (EEG) to find the underlying cause of her seizures. Doctors discovered that she had a tumour on her left frontal lobe.

“It’s a slow growing grade level one,” Martin explains of the tumour.

She underwent surgery to remove the tumour but only 90 per cent could be removed as it was attached to her speech memory. Carrera continues to live with 10 per cent of the tumour and regularly goes to have MRI’s completed to check on the tumour.

Not only does YANA help Martin out with getting Carrera to her often last minute appointments at BC Children’s Hospital, they have helped find her coverage through other funding for Carrera’s very expensive medications.

“One is about $200 a month and the other is $400 every two months. [YANA] helped me figure out funding for her medication.”

“It has been a super relief in knowing that YANA is there to help me because I’m still navigating myself throughout this and worried about all of this stuff. I couldn’t afford to go over to Vancouver and miss work. They have just been so wonderful and I can reach out to them anytime. About anything,” shared Martin of her experience with YANA.

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The Valley Vonka – a major fundraiser for YANA, is ongoing in the Comox Valley. Businesses throughout the community are selling chocolate bars (by donation) with the chance to find one of five Golden Tickets inside the bar. A Golden Ticket qualifies the redeemer to one of five grand prizes, values anywhere from $780 to $1,000.

Chocolate bars are available at:

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