General News
YANA Week in the Schools!
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YANA Week in the Schools is set for next week, May 4 – 9, 2014. The week will kick-off with Croquet for YANA on Sunday, May 4th at Highland Secondary School from noon until 3pm. Many schools plan events during the week that raise awareness and funds for YANA, though many other schools support YANA at other times of the year. Building a partnership between YANA and our local schools provides an opportunity to celebrate kids helping kids, to teach social responsibility and to inform staff and students about how YANA uses raised funds to help local families.
Some of the events scheduled to celebrate YANA week include:
- Mark Isfeld’s Zumba for YANA on April 27th
- A bake sale at Highland on May 1st
- Croquet for YANA at Highland on May 4th
- A garage sale at Miracle Beach Elementary on May 7th
- A coin drive and bake sale at Puntledge Elementary on May 7th
- The next monthly Hat Day at Valley View on May 9th (they have raised $400 already from previous months – well done!)
- Principal (Kyle Timms) and teacher (Heather Freeland) from Courtenay Elementary are having their heads shaved for donations to YANA at an assembly on May 9th (photo below)
- Aspen Park Elementary’s Hat Day on May 13th
- Royston Elementary’s awareness assembly on May 14th
- Queneesh Elementary’s skip-a-thon for YANA on May 15th
- Vanier is having an Advisory Group Coin Drive and BBQ culminating on May 29th
- Cumberland Elementary will be hosting a fun fair called Village Fest on June 4th
A heart-felt thank you to all of the staff and students that are participating in YANA Week in the Schools and to the schools who support YANA at other times of the year.
Check out the article in the Echo about Croquet for YANA.
Kids’ Clutter Sale on April 26th
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The Comox Valley Kids’ Clutter next sale is on Saturday, April 26th from 9am to 12pm at the Courtenay Legion on Cliffe Avenue. The sale offers local families the opportunity to either buy and/or sell gently used children’s clothing, toys and equipment. Learn more about the Kids’ Clutter Sale here.
This semi-annual event has grown over the years and has been run by Chelsey Newton. Chelsey has supported local charities, such as YANA by donating partial proceeds from the sale. Recently, Newton chose to donate the Kids’ Clutter Sale to YANA, so for the first time, this will be the YANA Kids’ Clutter Sale. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to run this semi-annual event for our community as a fundraiser for YANA. Chelsey has worked so hard at making this a successful event over the years and we are so grateful for her generous donation,” states YANA President, Judy Cryer.
The Kids’ Clutter Sale makes selling items much easier and also offers the opportunity to buy well priced and gently used items for children. There are hundreds of items to choose from and items often disappear quickly at this popular sale. Partial proceeds from the sale are returned to the sellers and the balance will help YANA with the work we do for families.
Photo: Chelsey Newton and her parents (the Nelsons) pass on Kids’ Clutter to YANA, represented by Judy Cryer, President.
Central Builders’ Hosting Ladies Night in May
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Once again, Central Builders’ is supporting YANA by hosting Ladies Night. The date is set for May 1 from 6:00 – 9:00pm. Tickets are on sale in advance and the evening promises to include lots of learning, laughter and skill building.
Easter Eggstravaganza on Monday, April 21
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Investors Group has teamed up with the Town of Comox and Quality Foods to host an Easter Eggstravaganza on April 21st at Comox Marina Park. An Easter egg hunt starts at noon (sharp) and a BBQ and activities by donation will follow. All proceeds will be donated to YANA. See the poster below for more details.
Community Spirit Soars At Dinner & Auction
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Sincere gratitude to the “hundreds of hearts” that contributed to the YANA Dinner & Auction held Friday, February 28th. Together we raised $63,800 for local families who need to leave the Comox Valley for medical treatment.
It was a night filled with community spirit thanks to numerous volunteers, joyful guests, generous donors and caring sponsors. A huge shout out to the volunteer planning committee (Loretta Semple, Sarah Stromquist, Alana Pearson, Harmony Dyck, Lesley Hunter, Judy Cryer, Kelly Rusk, Kris Johnson and Marcie Dumais), auctioneer Dave Stevens, Karen McKinnon, Ron Pogue, Bob Wells, Carl Tessmann and Comox Taxi. Many thanks to Tria Fine Catering, All-In-One Party Rentals, Four Frames Photo Booth and Tick-It for providing exceptional service at discounted rates. We live in a community that cares about kids!
Read what the Comox Valley Record has to say about the 2014 Dinner & Auction.
2014 Dinner & Auction Photo Gallery
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Photographer Ron Pogue captured the magic of the evening. Scroll through the gallery below to see some of the images from the event and see more pictures here.
Generous Donation Made By Courtenay Family Chiropractic
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In 2011, Courtenay Family Chiropractic started a fund raising campaign to help support YANA. Early in 2014, they decided they should tally up the funds and make the donation happen. Much to their surprise, and the grateful delight of YANA, the total was an impressive $10,130.
The entire team at Courtenay Family Chiropractic is extremely proud to be able to make this donation. Dr. Marnie Grant and Dr. Ken Heinrich (right) are presenting the cheque to YANA (Kris Johnson, left) on behalf of their team. Thank you so much for this incredible donation, it will support so many of the families who need to leave the Comox Valley for their child’s medical needs.
Save the Date for the Dinner & Auction
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The 2014 YANA Dinner & Auction is on Friday, February 28th at the Florence Filberg in Courtenay.
Tickets are $60 each and will be sold online starting Saturday, January 18th at 8:00 a.m.
Mark it on your calendars and join us for the fun!
Cycling ‘fast-fast’ for Tori on Sunday
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Jeff Mosher knows this Sunday’s Simon’s Cycles YANA Ride is not a race, but he’ll be going “fast-fast” none-the-less. For he’s seen first hand the difference YANA makes to Comox Valley families.
“In July of 2007 my wife and I received exciting news from our close friends Shayne and Erin Boelk that they were expecting twins,” said Mosher. Little did he know that one of their daughters would inspire him to ride faster and raise more than $800 for the Comox Valley charity.
Tori Boelk was born November 29, 2007 at the B.C. Children’s Hospital in Vancouver with a heart condition. Her sister Lara never made it, succumbing to twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome during Erin’s 28th week of pregnancy.Tori required open-heart surgery four days after she was born, spending her first year in hospital where she received a tracheotomy, ventilator, and a second heart surgery. She will require three more surgeries as she grows.
YANA financially assisted her family’s stay in Vancouver for the first 15 months of her life, allowing her family to focus on Tori. YANA has already committed to additional support for Tori’s numerous follow-up procedures in the years to come.
Now five, going on six, Tori is back at home in Courtenay where she is fiercely independent and rapidly growing out of a continuous feeding tube and a portable vent.
“This doesn’t hold her back,” said Mosher. “Her powered wheelchair should only go one speed according to her – “fast-fast!” – because slow is too boring.
“When Simon’s Cycles announced they were hosting the 2013 YANA road ride it was a hands down choice for me. What a great opportunity to return the support YANA gave to my friends by getting pledges for YANA to go ‘fast-fast’ on the 100 km ride because slow is too boring.”
Mosher will be one of more than 100 cyclists taking part in this year’s longest leg of the YANA Ride – a 100 kilometre route – but there will be many more riders of all ages peddling shorter distances.To donate and help Jeff’s ride for Tori – or any of the other participants – visit www.yanacomoxvalley.com, click the Simon’s Cycles YANA Ride banner, and click ‘pledge a participant’. Find and click the name of one you wish to support, such as Mosher, to offer sponsorship. Tori’s story is available at the same website, under ‘Stories’. Find out more about the Simon’s Cycles YANA Ride or to register to take part, visit www.yanacomoxvalley.com.