August 2013

Cycling ‘fast-fast’ for Tori on Sunday

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Jeff Mosher knows this Sunday’s Simon’s Cycles YANA Ride is not a race, but he’ll be going “fast-fast” none-the-less. For he’s seen first hand the difference YANA makes to Comox Valley families.

“In July of 2007 my wife and I received exciting news from our close friends Shayne and Erin Boelk that they were expecting twins,” said Mosher. Little did he know that one of their daughters would inspire him to ride faster and raise more than $800 for the Comox Valley charity.

Tori Boelk was born November 29, 2007 at the B.C. Children’s Hospital in Vancouver with a heart condition. Her sister Lara never made it, succumbing to twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome during Erin’s 28th week of pregnancy.Tori required open-heart surgery four days after she was born, spending her first year in hospital where she received a tracheotomy, ventilator, and a second heart surgery. She will require three more surgeries as she grows.

YANA financially assisted her family’s stay in Vancouver for the first 15 months of her life, allowing her family to focus on Tori. YANA has already committed to additional support for Tori’s numerous follow-up procedures in the years to come.

Now five, going on six, Tori is back at home in Courtenay where she is fiercely independent and rapidly growing out of a continuous feeding tube and a portable vent.

“This doesn’t hold her back,” said Mosher. “Her powered wheelchair should only go one speed according to her – “fast-fast!” – because slow is too boring.

“When Simon’s Cycles announced they were hosting the 2013 YANA road ride it was a hands down choice for me. What a great opportunity to return the support YANA gave to my friends by getting pledges for YANA to go ‘fast-fast’ on the 100 km ride because slow is too boring.”

Mosher will be one of more than 100 cyclists taking part in this year’s longest leg of the YANA Ride – a 100 kilometre route – but there will be many more riders of all ages peddling shorter distances.To donate and help Jeff’s ride for Tori – or any of the other participants – visit www.yanacomoxvalley.com, click the Simon’s Cycles YANA Ride banner, and click ‘pledge a participant’. Find and click the name of one you wish to support, such as Mosher, to offer sponsorship. Tori’s story is available at the same website, under ‘Stories’. Find out more about the Simon’s Cycles YANA Ride or to register to take part, visit www.yanacomoxvalley.com.

© Comox Valley Echo

Thank you to all cyclists, volunteers, sponsors and donors that contributed to the Simon’s Cycles YANA Ride. It was an amazing example of people coming together for the joy of riding and the joy of helping! Cyclist, Kelly Rusk, had some special pledges, one from the Firefighters Association and one from Mirren Everitt , who put all of his allowance toward pledging Kelly’s ride.

Courtenay Medical Associates and staff had a jeans day and donated the proceeds to YANA Hooray!

Nrichmedia has an ongoing giving program. For every client whose project is priced $1,000 or more, they donate 3% to a charity chosen by the client. YANA is frequently the recipient. Fantastic!

Once again, Nautical Days provided an opportunity for YANA to collect donations on the final evening of the festivities at Marina Park. Thank you for this opportunity and special acknowledgement to the volunteers who collected money and the generous people who made donations.

Thank you to The Potter’s Place for their Chili Bowl Fundraiser which took place during Market Days this summer. The bowls and the chili were made with love! What a great way to add to your pottery collection each year and help local families with sick kids at the same time.

The B.C. Government does payroll deductions for donations by provincial employees. Many thanks to those employees who choose YANA to receive their donations.

Canadian Western Bank held a branch fundraiser with proceeds to YANA We appreciate your ongoing support.

The Parks Department from the Town of Comox has teamed up with YANA to turn cans and bottles into help for families. The staff collect the containers from the bins around town and then one of our hardest working volunteers does all the sorting at the Comox Return-It Centre. Thank you to 8-year-old Chris Parkinson for this great effort and to his mom, Carol-Anne, for being at his side.

YANA tins from various stores, restaurants and pubs around the Valley bring in a constant flow of donations. Thanks to the businesses and the donors. Every penny counts!