Many kids experience leg pain at one time or another, so when Charley developed a limp last year around the time of her ninth birthday, it was first chalked up to growing pains. During a physiotherapy session to resolve it, a lump was discovered in her abdomen: a tumour that had originated in her pelvis and spread.
Thanks to timely medical intervention at CHEO that included chemotherapy, radiation and several surgeries, Charley is gradually recovering, but she requires additional chemotherapy. Despite all she’s been through, she brings joy and positivity wherever she goes.
Charley is one of the many children whose stories will be spotlighted in this year’s 43rd annual CHEO Telethon, one of Ottawa’s most highly anticipated community fundraising campaigns. Apart from individual donors, matching sponsor partners also contribute a substantial portion of the total funds raised, inspiring community members to give with the incentive of sponsors matching their donation to double their impact.
That’s crucial in supporting the care of the campaign’s featured children – young patients who share their personal health journeys to raise awareness and funds for the CHEO Foundation.
“What Charley is going through is something no child should have to endure,” says Lisa Stinson of W.O. Stinson & Son Ltd., a matching sponsor partner who is matched with Charley for the campaign. “Her journey is a powerful reminder of why we’re committed to supporting CHEO’s oncology program and the families who rely on it during these incredibly difficult moments.”
A two-week online campaign culminating in the live broadcast
The two-week campaign will kick off online on May 25 and will culminate in a live broadcast on CTV Ottawa on Saturday, June 6 from 4 to 7 p.m. During the live portion of the Telethon, viewers will hear from the six featured CHEO patients and their families with updates and how they have benefitted from treatment funded by the generosity of sponsors and community donors alike.
The telethon broadcast will also feature behind-the-scenes views inside CHEO: Frontline doctors, researchers, and allied health professionals will show and share how donor funds help to support life-changing treatments, groundbreaking research, and state-of-the-art medical equipment.
Other online matching sponsors include Subaru Outaouais, Access Storage, RBC, and CanArk Paving. CHEO Foundation says the telethon’s popular Miracle Matches – where viewers’ contributions are also matched by supporting sponsors – result in more donations coming in by phone during the Telethon as donors see how their contributions are doubled by sponsor partners.
This year’s Miracle Match sponsors include Surgenor Automotive Group, St-Hubert Foundation, Danbe Foundation, Ottawa Professional Fire Fighters Association, Guardian Capital, Arnon Corp., IFC Seafood, Hydro Ottawa, and Gabriel Pizza.
Why the CHEO Telethon is so successful
One of the keys to the telethon’s success is taking viewers inside CHEO to see where their contributions have the most impact, explains Steve Read, president and CEO of CHEO Foundation. Last year, the CHEO Telethon raised more than $750,000.
“Apart from donations received during the live broadcast, the telethon also inspires viewers to give in other ways through the year towards various needs of the hospital,” Read says.
“The telethon has been instrumental in raising substantial funding each year that goes to support the changing and ever-growing needs of CHEO, CHEO Research Institute, and Roger Nielson Children’s Hospice,” adds Read. “The corporate philanthropy we receive through our association with Children’s Miracle Network, sponsorship from local businesses, donations from individuals, fundraising events, and the telethon all help us continue providing the best care for children who need it.”
The ‘Kids These Days’ campaign
Last year, CHEO Foundation launched a $220-million fundraising campaign that shines a light on children facing more complex medical challenges than ever before.
To address these challenges, improve access to care with modernized technology, reduce wait times in emergency rooms, and provide a centralized facility offering a variety of services, CHEO will build a 200,000-square-foot Integrated Treatment Centre.
The facility is scheduled to open in early 2028 and is part of CHEO’s campus redevelopment and expansion project, which will also include the renovation, modernization, and expansion of other areas of the hospital. Telethon viewers will hear details about the Kids These Days campaign and how donor funds are making important improvements at CHEO.
“While we always hope that the funds raised from the telethon will help service the great needs at the hospital, the telethon is also an opportunity to thank our generous community for their continued support,” says Read.
“We are so grateful to our generous sponsors and individual donors. None of the work we do at CHEO would be possible without them.”
For more information, please visit cheotelethon.com. Donations can be made on https://telethon.cheofoundation.com/ from May 25 to June 6 or by calling 613-730-CHEO (2436) during the live telethon on Saturday, June 6, between 4-7 p.m.
