News

In May of last year, the Girard family’s world was flipped upside down by the news of young Hudson Girard’s diagnosis of a large brain tumour near his brain stem.

The situation moved very quickly; from an MRI in search of answers to packing up and heading to BC Children’s Hospital, where Hudson would undergo a gruelling 10-hour surgery. Thanks to the skllful hands of the medical team and Dr. Faizal Haji, Hudson’s tumour removal was a success.

“It was indescribable the support that we received,” explained Hudson’s dad, Eric Girard, when talking about YANA’s crucial role during this turbulent time. He shared how YANA’s assistance provided relief, supporting the family’s journey and stay in Vancouver. “When you get an absolute bombshell dropped on you like that, you don’t know what way is up or down, left or right. Talking to Kelly felt like some things were taken off of our plate, which helped reduce our stress levels. It was remarkable what YANA did for us. We are really, really lucky,” said Girard.

Now, just over a year later, Hudson and the Girard family are expressing their gratitude for YANA by participating in this year’s Comox Bike Co YANA Ride. They ride to support future YANA families, just like their own family was supported. The family has created a team, “Hudson’s Homies”, where each member will ride a total of 200 kilometres while raising money for YANA between August 1st and 18th. This annual ride highlights the critical work of YANA, raising both funds and awareness to ensure that families with children and pregnant mothers in the Comox Valley can access the specialized medical care they need.

The Girard family’s participation is a testament to the impact of YANA, showing that families are never alone in their time of need. Grateful for the generous help they received from their community, they are now honoured to pay it forward by fundraising to help other families. Hudson explained his decision to ride, “What our family went through was really hard, and YANA was there for us, so I want to support other families going through what we went through.”

At the time the article was written, Hudson’s Homies had already surpassed their initial goal of $5,000 raised, and have now set a new goal of $10,000. With the money their team has raised so far, YANA can support another family’s stay in Vancouver for nearly two months. To help Hudson and his Homies reach their goal, pledges can be made by clicking the “Register – Make a Pledge – Get Info” button at yanacomoxvalley.com.

Event organizers hope the community will rally behind the charity and the local families they serve to help reach their $100,000 fundraising goal. YANA executive director Kelly Barnie explains the impact of widespread support for the YANA Ride, “The enthusiastic participation and generous contributions from our supporters ensure that we can continue to provide vital assistance to families facing medical challenges, helping to alleviate some of their burdens and allowing them to focus on what truly matters – their loved ones.”

To participate in the 2024 Comox Bike Co. YANA Ride, donate to a rider, or get more information about joining the fun at the August 18th Party in the Park, visit https://www.yanacomoxvalley.com/yana-event/ride/.