Comox Valley’s six-year-old Aria shines as YANA’s 2024 diamond ring winner
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YANA (You Are Not Alone) Comox Valley has finally found this year’s 2024 Christmas Cracker diamond ring winner – six-year-old Aria.
Originally published by the Comox Valley Record 2024-01-21
From L to R: Kelly Barnie, YANA executive director, Aria Cole, cracker ring winner, Garret Cole, Aria’s dad , Kourtney Van Velzen, YANA client care co-ordinator.
YANA (You Are Not Alone) Comox Valley has finally found this year’s 2024 Christmas Cracker diamond ring winner – six-year-old Aria.
The magical win is particularly special, as it celebrates a family deeply connected to YANA, embodying a story of generosity and gratitude across generations.
Aria’s grandparents, Shaun and Mae, have been dedicated supporters of YANA’s annual Christmas Cracker campaign, purchasing 100 or more crackers every year. Their passion for YANA stems from personal experience: decades ago, their son Garret, Aria’s dad, was a YANA child.
Garret’s journey with YANA began decades ago when he needed to travel to Vancouver after an X-ray revealed concerns about a broken ankle due to a skiing accident. At the time, Garret’s dad was starting his construction business, and his mom worked in retail. The unexpected four-day trip was a financial and emotional strain, but YANA stepped in to provide essential support, making the journey manageable for the family during a challenging time.
Now, years later, the family’s connection to YANA has come full circle with Aria’s big win.
Adding to the magic of this moment is a unique family twist: several years ago, Garret’s brother, Byron, won YANA’s diamond earrings at a Christmas party. In a touching gesture, he gifted the earrings to their mom, Mae. Last summer, Mae passed them on to Byron’s fiancée, who wore the sparkling set on her wedding day. Now, with Aria’s win, the family adds another joyful chapter to their YANA story.
Now, Aria is the proud winner of YANA’s stunning diamond ring set. She plans to keep them safe in their special box until they fit perfectly and she can wear them and tell their chapter of the story proudly.
“This was such a beautiful reminder of YANA’s lasting impact on families and the incredible support we receive from the Comox Valley community,” said Kourtney Van Velzen, YANA’s client care co-ordinator.
This year’s YANA Christmas Cracker campaign was a success thanks to the incredible support of the Comox Valley community. Special thanks go to Somers Private Wealth of RBC Dominion Securities for sponsoring the fundraiser, Mark the Gold Guy at Comox Valley Pawnbrokers for donating the gorgeous grand prize diamond ring set, and the tireless volunteers who handcrafted and distributed all 5,000 Christmas crackers.
Congratulations to Aria and her family on this unforgettable win, and thank you to everyone who supported YANA this holiday season.