News

YANA is generously upheld by the spirit and kindness of the Comox Valley. Check out what is going on and learn about amazing supportive efforts taking place within our community. We respect the privacy of our individual donors, as such this is a sampling of donations where public acknowledgement is appropriate.

YANA lives up to its name for Comox Valley family

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Originally published by the Comox Valley Record, April 9, 2025

Marc Kitteringham – Comox Valley Record

YANA stands for “You Are Not Alone,” and for the family of Henri Gayet-Hanachowicz, that couldn’t be more true.

Gayet-Hanachowicz is a 10 year old boy living in the Comox Valley. He and his family moved here in 2022 from Vancouver. He’s a happy kid, mom Alice Gayet says, despite needing to go back to Vancouver every few months or so and visit a series of specialists to help deal with a variety of health issues. Gayet-Hanachowicz was diagnosed with infantile onset of Crohn’s disease and infantile hyperthyroidism at the age of one. That led to a diagnosis at three of juvenile arthritis. That same year he had urgent eye surgery, and doctors discovered brain lesions. A few years later, he was diagnosed with a bone disease and psoriasis, among other health issues.

“Crohn’s disease for babies is extremely rare and aggressive,” Gayet said. “It’s a quite complex disease, and severe … Hyperthyroidism, when you’re an adult it’s okay, but when you’re a baby it can lead to developmental and intellectual delays.

“We were at the hospital quite a lot for this. Basically for years he has been on a combination of immunosuppressants, many of which were not approved for kids for a long time,” she said.

Gayet and her husband moved from France to Vancouver, where Henri was born. They made the move to Comox in 2022. BCFRP (BC Family Residence Program) told her about YANA and advised her to contact them. That’s when everything changed.

“I’d actually never heard about it, so I decided to call them,” Gayet said. “It wasn’t easy, because it’s not easy asking for help. I spoke to Kourtney (Van Velzen) there and she was so kind and empathetic and so supportive … it was a huge relief. I actually cried when I spoke to her.

“I was very shocked that people who never met us would help organize places for us to stay, help with expenses … we don’t have family here, they’re in Europe. It’s very lonely sometimes, and … to connect with this many people has been really transformative.”

Now, instead of worrying about where they are going to stay, eat, travel, how they are going to pay for it, they get to pay attention to what really matters: their son. Now, they try to find other things to do outside of Henri’s appointments, things like going to arcades and the aquarium.

“I got a strong little guy, and great support,” Gayet said, adding that YANA adds “emotional support, on top of the practical assistance, and the sense of community.”

“Every time we travel to Vancouver, there’s at least one moment when I just have a wave of gratitude,” she said. “It’s usually when we get off the ferry …  they really gave us a sense of community.”

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The Valley Vonka – a major fundraiser for YANA, is ongoing in the Comox Valley. Businesses throughout the community are selling chocolate bars (by donation) with the chance to find one of five Golden Tickets inside the bar. A Golden Ticket qualifies the redeemer to one of five grand prizes, values anywhere from $780 to $1,000.

Chocolate bars are available at:

Huge thanks to Katrina Kaboly for her incredible generosity and community spirit! This year, Katrina donated $1,478.50 to YANA as part of her commitment to give back through her real estate listings.🏡💛 

Thank you for turning home listings into support for families in the Comox Valley! 🫶✨

💃🎉 A HUGE THANK YOU to Stupid IPF for hosting an AMAZING Bellyfit class FUNdraiser and raising a whopping $600.00 for YANA! 🎉💖

All class fees were donated, and we are absolutely blown away by the generosity and energy of everyone involved! 🙌 From the moves to the good vibes… there is truly nothing better🌟

We thank you for your support – you’ve got us shaking it with joy! 🕺💃

You Are Not Alone assists Courtenay teen with scoliosis

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Originally published by the Comox Valley Record, April 1, 2025

Raynee Novak – Comox Valley Record

In September of 2024, after waiting for almost two years, Heather Kohnle received a call from BC Children’s Hospital that the much needed spinal surgery her daughter had to have was finally happening.

Brianna suffered from extreme scoliosis and had tumours on her spine, further exasperating her condition. She had to be taken to BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver for surgery to straighten her spine, insert two rods and 26 screws.

“She had been waiting so long, it just got so painful for her. She couldn’t walk anymore, she couldn’t sit in a chair anymore, her scoliosis was so bad because there’s a tumour in her spine,” shared Kohnle.

Kohnle needed to be with Brianna at the hospital while she had her surgery and during recovery, meaning she would be off work for almost three months.

“I’m a single mom, I”ve got two kids at home, I’m working full time and I had to take three months off,” said Kohnle.

When it came to the costs associated with travelling back and forth from BC Children’s Hospital and Courtenay, YANA stepped in and covered costs. There were many appointments and YANA was there every step of the way. Including helping Kohnle see her son who was back in Courtenay this whole time.

“Here’s my son back in Courtenay, having to live life on his own and start school with my mother’s support. It was so nice that YANA helped us. After two weeks of being in the hospital in September, YANA helped us get my mother, son and Brianna’s best friend over to Vancouver for a weekend.”

Finally, when it came time for Brianna to be discharged from the hospital, Kohnle was hit with a $610 bill for a back brace that Brianna had to have in order to leave. It would keep her spine straight and keep her from damaging the new rods and screws. While YANA couldn’t cover that cost, they found a charity that could.

“They reached out to two different charities and the second one paid the entire $610 bill for the brace for us.”

“YANA is the coolest thing ever. And since we’ve been home, they have facilitated check ups, getting us back and forth. I can’t say enough good things about them.”

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The Valley Vonka – a major fundraiser for YANA, is ongoing in the Comox Valley. Businesses throughout the community are selling chocolate bars (by donation) with the chance to find one of five Golden Tickets inside the bar. A Golden Ticket qualifies the redeemer to one of five grand prizes, values anywhere from $780 to $1,000.

Chocolate bars are available at:

🎉 Shoutout to Mt. Washington Alpine Resort for their amazing generosity! 🎉

They hosted an awesome yoga session during their annual Nordic Fest up at the mountain, and get this… it was by donation! 🙌✨ All the proceeds went to YANA! 💖

Thank you for bringing the community together, stretching out those muscles, and helping us raise funds to support YANA families. 🧘‍♀️Your kindness truly lifts us all up! 🌟

🎉🎉 BIG THANK YOU to the amazing Royal Canadian Legion Branch 160 for their incredible $1500 donation! 🙌

Not only did they show some major love to YANA, but they also spread the generosity to these awesome local organizations:
 💖 CV Healthcare Foundation
 💖 Eureka Support Society
 💖 CV Food Bank
 💖 CV Hospice Foundation
 💖 CV Therapeutic Riding Society

Talk about community power! 💥 You’ve made our day, and so many others, so much brighter! 🌟

🎉 Huge shoutout to Mel Rogers at Alpine First Aid! 🎉

Not only did he provide incredible first aid services for the CV Road Runners event, but he also went above and beyond by donating his normal fee to YANA in lieu of payment! 🙌💙

Thank you, Mel, for being an incredible YANA supporter! 🏅 Your kindness and dedication are truly inspiring! 💫

You Are Not Alone helps girl with seizure disorder

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Originally published by the Comox Valley Record, March 26, 2025

Raynee Novak – Comox Valley Record

Chanel Martin is busy learning the ropes of her daughter’s battle with seizures while keeping her life in order.

Carrera Wiesselmann started having seizures when she was just two. She was taken to specialists and put on seven different medications but still suffering from seizures.

“She was still having seizures, we couldn’t figure out why. That’s when we started going to BC Children’s Hospital and they were able to test her there,” said Martin.

It was during that stay at BC Children’s Hospital that Carrera underwent a week-long electroencephalography (EEG) to find the underlying cause of her seizures. Doctors discovered that she had a tumour on her left frontal lobe.

“It’s a slow growing grade level one,” Martin explains of the tumour.

She underwent surgery to remove the tumour but only 90 per cent could be removed as it was attached to her speech memory. Carrera continues to live with 10 per cent of the tumour and regularly goes to have MRI’s completed to check on the tumour.

Not only does YANA help Martin out with getting Carrera to her often last minute appointments at BC Children’s Hospital, they have helped find her coverage through other funding for Carrera’s very expensive medications.

“One is about $200 a month and the other is $400 every two months. [YANA] helped me figure out funding for her medication.”

“It has been a super relief in knowing that YANA is there to help me because I’m still navigating myself throughout this and worried about all of this stuff. I couldn’t afford to go over to Vancouver and miss work. They have just been so wonderful and I can reach out to them anytime. About anything,” shared Martin of her experience with YANA.

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The Valley Vonka – a major fundraiser for YANA, is ongoing in the Comox Valley. Businesses throughout the community are selling chocolate bars (by donation) with the chance to find one of five Golden Tickets inside the bar. A Golden Ticket qualifies the redeemer to one of five grand prizes, values anywhere from $780 to $1,000.

Chocolate bars are available at:

Ready, set, chocolate: Your golden ticket awaits in the 2025 Valley Vonka Contest

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Originally published by the Comox Valley Record, March 26, 2025

Black Press Media Staff  – Comox Valley Record

The Comox Valley Record and Parker Appliances are back with the sweetest contest of the year: the 2025 Valley Vonka.

And let’s give a huge shout-out to Dustin and Lisa from Parker Appliances for making it all possible – thanks to you both. Thanks to Adil Amlani (Sure Copy) for donating the chocolate bar wrappers and canvas, and Lisa Joan for designing Olivia the Octopus.

This isn’t just any contest – we’re talking about a treasure hunt for five gold tickets more than 3,000 delicious chocolate bars from the Comox Valley’s own Hot Chocolates scattered throughout participating businesses in the Valley. Each donation directly supports YANA, making your calorie sacrifice truly worthwhile.

Here’s how to join the fun: Mark your calendars, as the hunt kicks off on March 26 and continues until April 16. Check out the Valley Vonka section in the Wednesday issues of the Record March 26, April 2, 9 and 16  editions for contest details, deadlines, chocolate bar locations, and everything in between. The more chocolate bars you acquire, the higher the chance of winning one of the five coveted golden tickets.

Each golden ticket is worth between $780 and $1,000. Prizes include:

  • The Ultimate Relaxation Package: A luxurious stay at The Old House Resort & Spa, a delectable dinner at a local restaurant, and a family spa day (Value: $1,000)
  • A Healing Escape: Experience the magical Healing Caves at The Kingfisher Oceanside Resort and Spa, an experience for four (Value: $780)
  • Save on Fuel: A Peninsula Co-Op Gas Card (Value: $1,000)
  • Shopping Spree Time: A Canadian Tire Shopping Spree (Value: $1,000)
  • Grocery Goodness: A Quality Foods Gift Card (for Comox and Courtenay stores – Value: $1,000)

Found a Golden Ticket? Don’t wait! You must validate your ticket at the Comox Valley Record office (407D Fifth Street, Courtenay) by April 28 to claim your prize.

Last year Comox Valley residents helped us raise $17,949.11. This year, we’re aiming even higher – $22,000. We’re counting on you to get behind this fantastic initiative and make it the sweetest success yet. All proceeds from your donations of chocolate bars go to Y.A.N.A.

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The Valley Vonka – a major fundraiser for YANA, is ongoing in the Comox Valley. Businesses throughout the community are selling chocolate bars (by donation) with the chance to find one of five Golden Tickets inside the bar. A Golden Ticket qualifies the redeemer to one of five grand prizes, values anywhere from $780 to $1,000.

Chocolate bars are available at:

A heartfelt thank you to the Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church and its congregation for choosing YANA as your Mission of the Month! Your generosity brings comfort and support to local families when they need it most.