Are you moved when you see the commercials on TV for The Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto, or the St. Jude's Children's Hospital in the USA?  Every time I see the sick children, and particularly the ones with cancer, I am reminded of that horrible day when I was told MY child had cancer.  When I see cancer survivors tell their stories, I am happy for them, but still so angry that my son did not survive, and that September 25th marks the 23rd anniversary of his death. 

St. Jude's advertises that parents never receive a bill for any expenses incurred while their child is having treatment.  How wonderful it would be if that could be true for sick kids at Children's Hospital.  While many expenses in Winnipeg are paid by Manitoba Health, it is the every day expenses that add up quickly - the cost of parking, medications, nutritional supplements, lost wages, etc. can quickly put families in a difficult financial position.

Daniel Lee Dorward was my son and on his behalf, I (Donna Friesen) am raising money in support of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba. By allocating your donation to the Daniel Lee Dorward Children's Comfort Fund, you are helping families with sick kids cope with the day-to-day and extraordinary costs of having a sick or injured child.  Get to know more about Daniel and his Fund on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pg/Dorwardchildrensfund  Please remember to like and share his page.

If you have not yet contributed to this Fund, please consider doing so.  You never know when you or someone you know may need our help.  Think about how many families could be helped if every family contributed even $5 or $10, or if a donation was made instead of a restaurant meal - plus you get a tax receipt! 

It is so easy to donate - just click the orange DONATE NOW button above and fill in the information or click the sign up button on our Facebook page.  If you prefer to pay by cheque, write "Daniel Dorward Fund" in the memo area. 

If you have a sick or injured child and need financial assistance, please ask a nurse to put you in contact with a social worker.

Most of us know someone who has had a sick or injured child; what you don't likely know is the financial struggles they could be facing.  Whether a child is in hospital or has a chronic and/or life-threatening illness that requires many visits to Children's Hospital for clinic appointments or diagnostic tests and procedures, the costs add up quickly.  In most cases, the extra costs for parking or transportation alone can place a financial strain on the parents.  They often need to pay for hospital meals or medications.  These are only a few of the expenses they could incur.

Other factors that affect parents may include a drop in income due to time needed for appointments or hospitalization of a seriously ill child, lack of a vehicle, emotional stress, lack of time and energy, and the need to travel out of Province for treatment.

Some of the expenses covered are:

• transportation to get the child to the care they need (bus tickets, taxi)
• gas, parking
• accommodation at Lennox Bell Lodge or another facility close to the hospital
• medication and nutritional products
• phone cards, grocery cards, meal tickets (or gift cards for local businesses)
• hygiene products (personal care items - deodorant, oral care, shampoo, etc, feminine hygiene products)
• baby start up needs (including: diapers, formula)
• other needs identified by the family

In November 2017, the original Fund was retired and the Daniel Lee Dorward Children’s Comfort Fund was started through the support of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba. This change was win-win for everyone. More families will be helped without this disabled senior having to organize fundraisers, and Dan’s dream will continue to be fulfilled for many years to come.

About Daniel Lee Dorward

Dan was a remarkable young man. He was an active volunteer, cadet, and Christian. He loved the simple things in life - a drive in the country with me was a favorite activity.  He enjoyed time with his brother and was very close to his sister.  He was a gentle person with an infectious smile and keen sense of humor.  He looked forward to getting his driver's licence, to becoming a pilot, and to getting married and having a family sometime down the road.

In January 1993 when he was only 15 years old, he was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma.  The location of his cancer made it inoperable and he started with a 50/50 chance of survival.  Although the tests and procedures were painful, he looked at them as a new adventure.  Chemo and radiation were horrible experiences.  Despite extremely high dosages of pain medications, his pain was uncontrollable and unimaginable.  Throughout his illness, he maintained his sense of humor and desire to help others.

Known for his courage and helping new patients adjust to the life of a cancer patient, Dan was a great ambassador for the Children’s Hospital. His story was told in the 1994 and 1995 Manitoba Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation fundraising brochure, and he appeared on TV on more than one occasion.  A few months before his death, he accomplished his dream of going skydiving.  He did a tandem jump from 10,000 feet - something most healthy people wouldn't attempt! Having seen first-hand the financial stress created by his illness, Danny dreamed of starting a charity that would financially support families with a seriously ill child. Unfortunately, cancer claimed his life in September 1995, three weeks after his 18th birthday.

Your donation will make a difference to families coping with the challenges of having a sick or injured child.  No donation is too small.  Danny smiles down from heaven every time a family is helped, so let's put many smiles on his face by helping me meet my current fundraising goal of $15,000!

About The Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba

Whether you have children or not, chances are you have been touched by the joy that a child can bring. As a supporter of the Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba, you are making an investment in the future of over 120,000 children that are treated here each year.

The Mission of the Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba is to be an independent agency whose puspose is to raise and distribute funds for the advancement of knowledge and care in the fields of child health research and, thereby, contribute to the improved health of children everywhere. 

Established in 1971, the Children's Hospital Foundation works to support the special healthcare needs of children through reliable and consistent funding of pediatric medical research, as well as equipment and programs at Children's Hospital of Winnipeg.

Through the generosity of our donors and corporate supporters, we are able to commit millions of dollars each year to purchase equipment, support programs and fund important medical research which provides children and their families with hope for the one thing they need the most - a cure.