News
Ali, Nick, & Blake, A YANA Family Story
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Originally published by the Comox Valley Record – July 28, 2021
Andrea Postal, Client Services, YANA. Special to the Record
Team McQueen is decked out and ready to take donations and ride for YANA families in this year’s Comox Bike Co. YANA Ride. This is the 3rd year Nick and Ali Usher have participated in the organization’s annual event, and they have every reason in the world to come together to give back to YANA.
The Usher’s were first introduced to YANA 3.5 years ago when their youngest son, Blake, was born 15 weeks early by emergency c-section at St.Joseph’s hospital. Shortly after an emotional and challenging delivery, Blake was air-ambulanced to Victoria General Hospital and his parents prepared to follow close behind. Before they left the hospital Nick and Ali were given a gift from YANA that would change the course of their time away from home.
“The nurses just handed us this envelope, it says YANA on it, and you open it and there’s all this cash in it and you’re like, “whoa, whoa, what’s this for?” shares Ali, who was blown away by the no-strings-attached gift they received from the organization.
The $200 gift was just the beginning of the support they would receive from YANA. The cash funds were made available through the Hospital Emergency Funding Program, designed to provide immediate help to families who are transferred out of the community for medical care. Nick connected with YANA shortly after they arrived in Victoria, and immediately many of their worries melted away.
“Nicks’ like, ‘I got this email, they said they’d call us in the morning. We don’t have to pay for anything.’ “ Ali tells us, moved by the memory of how quickly and completely YANA stepped in to help with monthly financial support, as well as covering the cost of their accommodations at Jeneece Place.
And that was only the beginning for the Usher family. Blake spent 6 months in the Victoria Hospital NICU, and the family would have many more trips to come.
“All of the appointments following him coming home started coming in. You have your neonatal follow-ups, child development, multiple surgeries”, says Ali, who feels lucky their situation wasn’t more difficult. “You think about these other kids and families that are traveling way more than us. It’s the funding to go, the gas to go, the food to go, the organization to go, the missing work to go. It’s a lot and it adds up.”
Blake was recently discharged from the neonatal follow-up program, but the family continues to make trips to Victoria for a diagnosis the family received for him last year.
“He (Blake) got diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy last January (2020), and so he’s had more follow-ups with an orthopedic surgeon in Victoria that we go down to see.” says Ali. The family makes many of these trips each year, and YANA’s support has made a tremendous impact, one that has trickled down to friends and family who are also eager to give back to YANA’s cause and are excited to be participating in Team McQueen for this year’s Ride.
“This is our first year as a team fundraising all together”, says Ali. “Last year we were together, fundraising individually. We were like, why aren’t we doing this together? Let’s make a big team and let’s make as much money as we can.”
Team McQueen, which consists of Blake’s grandmother, aunts, and other close family members, has a goal of riding 25km and raising at least $5000. The team has a route picked out that Nick tells us consists of just about every hill in Comox, and a few rest stops along the way like Point Holmes beach and Blue Haven blueberry farm. Team members will take turns pulling Blake in the bike trailer, which the team has decked out in bright signs displaying their support for YANA.
“If you’re donating, you’re donating exactly back, dollar for dollar, right back into your community to your own friends and family”, says Ali, “you never know when you’re going to be in a situation when you’ll need YANA’s help.”
To find out more, donate, or register for this year’s ride, visit: https://raceroster.com/events/2021/48466/comox-bike-company-yana-ride
RBC to Match Donations up to $5,000
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RBC Wealth Management investment advisors, Don Somers, Brian Balfe, and Sean Martin are ready to make your donations grow for this year’s Comox Bike Co. YANA Ride!
Between July 16-25, they have set a goal of helping YANA supporters raise $10,000 in just 10 days. All donations made to YANA Ride participants will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $5,000.
The Comox Bike Co. YANA Ride is one of the organization’s largest annual fundraisers. Last year’s virtual event was a huge success, despite setbacks brought on by Covid restrictions.
YANA’s executive director Kelly Barnie explains, “We are so grateful to this community’s generosity through a difficult year for everyone. The need for support remains integral to families in our community, and we are so grateful to these three generous donors who have stepped up to double donations for this year’s Ride.”
It’s easy to make sure your donation is matched! Between 9am on July 16th and 11:59pm on July 25th:
- Make a pledge to a rider
- Head to YANA’s Facebook or Instagram @YANAComoxValley, like the “10 Grand in 10 Days” post
- Comment on that same post tagging the name of the rider you supported.
There’s never been a better time to make a difference with your dollars and show your support for Comox Valley families!
To register to ride, or make a donation to a rider that will be matched by Brian Balfe, Don Somers and Sean Martin of RBC Dominion Securities, go to https://raceroster.com/events/2021/48466/comox-bike-company-yana-ride
Ride WHAT You Like
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The 2021 Comox Bike Co. YANA Ride is just around the corner, and there is something for everyone. This year’s ride is a fully-flexible event where participants can choose the ride of their liking. If it’s got wheels and it’s person-powered, it fits the bill for this year’s cycling event.
Whether you rock the road, mountain, or cruiser bike, or prefer a stationary bike in the comfort of your living room, you can ride for Comox Valley families and help YANA reach their $100,000 goal for this year’s event.
“Last year’s ride blew our socks off. The community’s response to our totally re-imagined event was beyond what we could have hoped for.” says Kelly Barnie, YANA’s executive director. “Creating a flexible event has made it possible for anyone to participate, no matter their skill level, location, or what kind of biking they like to do. Our goal this year is bigger than ever, and we really think this community has what it takes to get there.”
Watch out for riders of all kinds between August 1-15th.
To register or donate to a rider, visit: www.yanacomoxvalley.com/yana-event/ride/.
Ride When You Like!
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Originally published by the Comox Valley Record – June 30, 2021
Got the itch to travel and a jam-packed summer?
No problem!
The 2021 Comox Bike Co YANA Ride is a fully flexible event where participants can gather pledges and get on their bikes anytime between Aug. 1-15. Over 100 riders are already registered and gathering donations for this year’s event!
Registration is available by any donation, big or small. For more information and to sign up for this year’s event, visit https://www.yanacomoxvalley.com/yana-event/ride/.
We’d like to acknowledge Blaine & Shirley Kitchener for their recent donation to YANA. Thank you for helping us to support Comox Valley Families who must travel for the medical treatment of a child or pregnant mother!
One special thing about December in the YANA office is that we get so many daily reminders of the incredible and generous support from our community as they designate YANA as their Charity of Choice for Holiday Giving. We’d like to give a Warm & Fuzzy thank you to Keith & Sharon Ritter for their financial Holiday Gift!
As if the Comox Valley Firefighter crew doesn’t do ENOUGH for their community, they also put in time to chip trees by donation! A huge thanks to the Comox Firefighters Association AND the local community for donating the pot to YANA.
Thank you, Budget Blinds, for your charitable donation to YANA! We appreciate receiving your financial gift, which will help local Comox Valley families immensely! 
Celebrating 35 Years of YANA – Decades of Families, One Story
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Behind every YANA family there is a story. Behind every health challenge, every trip and appointment, there is a community rallying together to hold that family up. Each journey is different, but the feeling remains the same; no matter what, you are not alone.
April 1st marks YANA’s 35th Anniversary of serving Comox Valley Families. Through the years, through massive world changes and challenges, YANA was, is, and will always be an anchor of support and a reflection of the heart of this community, standing together to help families for decades to come.