News
Sadie’s lemonade stand was a hit with thirsty customers at Queneesh Elementary School and with us. Thank you!
Thank you to Tom Harris Cellular who hosted a barbeque with proceeds to YANA. We appreciate your efforts and your commitment to helping local families.
Thank you to the Simon’s Cycles YANA Ride Committee who are volunteering so much time to make this summer’s cycling event amazing.
Thank you to the Comox Valley Division of Family Practice whose Perinatal Care Working Group dedicated survey monies to YANA.
Thank you to Central Builders who hosted Ladies’ Night with proceeds to YANA. We appreciate all the work that goes into this special evening and other staff fundraising events throughout the year.
Thank you to School District 71 who provided a donation honouring retiring staff. Congratulations to these hardworking individuals!
MNP staff dedicated donations to YANA for their jeans days as their way of showing support for local families. Thank you!
A shout out to people who generously donate their bottle returns to YANA through the depots in Comox and Courtenay. Thank you!
Simon’s Cycles YANA Ride Returns
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YANA recipient, Anna, giving out medals at the finish line of the Simon’s Cycles YANA Ride last summer.
When 10-year-old Anna spent significant time away from home receiving treatment for kidney cancer, she was separated from her mom and brothers who visited when they could.
Anna’s dad was with her in Vancouver. Anna’s mother, Hendrika, credits YANA’s financial support and the use of their apartments for keeping the family together.
“A sick child has a huge impact on family-life, the stress, your kid in pain, sick, struggling and sad, it’s a lot of emotion,” said Henricka. “What a blessing to know that the community supports YANA and therefore you. It’s a big help mentally as well as financially.”
That’s precisely why cyclists will be heading to Comox’s Marina Park on August 16.
“I rode because family is everything to me, I would do anything for my own daughter, and I am honoured to help other families in their time of need,” said Shannon Colthorpe, one of last year’s riders. “I felt proud to finish, and be part of such a great local fundraiser. It’s all fun, there’s no pressure to go fast, and the satisfaction of the ride is worth every ache and pain I felt the next day.”
The Simon’s Cycles YANA Ride is a challenging and unique bicycle ride through the beautiful Comox Valley with a variety of routes to enjoy including a 25km, 50km and a new 100km loop. There will also be a 6km family route that allows riders of all ages to cycle together regardless of ability.
For little ones not yet using pedals YANA will be hosting a special run bike race. Participants will enjoy bike support on all routes, special treats at fueling stations along the way, a barbecue lunch, entertainment, draw prizes, congratulatory medals and discounts at Simon’s Cycles.
Participants who register before July 23 will receive a free souvenir t-shirt courtesy of one of the event sponsors. Registrants may also purchase an exclusive cycling jersey and join Simon’s Cycles for pre-event training rides.
For more information click here.
We Really, Really Like This Guy!
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Volunteer firefighter Lt. Kelly Rusk has been serving his community with Comox Fire Rescue for sixteen years, which is reason enough to love him, but we have more!
In 2010 he joined YANA’s Board of Directors and has been a dedicated and tireless volunteer ever since. Kelly is part of the Simon’s Cycles YANA Ride committee, he is active in all YANA fundraisers and, like a firefighter, jumps in wherever he is needed. From research to heavy lifting to arial event photography, from the top of a firetruck ladder, we love that we can always count on him.
Lt. Rusk also has an impressive sweet tooth. Luckily he’s very good at sharing and can be relied on to have something confectionary in hand on the frequent occasions he stops by the YANA office. This may be what we love most about him.
Kelly is a consultant with Investors Group and lives in Comox with his lovely wife Robbie and their adorable dog Johnny Rotten.