WARMINGTON: Chase's Gift keeps on giving
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The only gift four-year-old cancer patient Chase Sandy and his family were hoping for was the gift of life.
They got it and have not stopped giving back ever since.
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“We saw the need families had when they had a child suffering from cancer in hospital,” Chase’s mom Tamara said. “We wanted to help.”
She and her husband Jeff are Halton Regional Police officers and because of that, they had all the support a family could ever ask for.
“We quickly learned that not every family has that,” said Tamara.
And that’s why Chase’s Gift was born.
Every year since, the family has held an event to raise money to assist families of children in McMaster Children’s Hospital’s cancer ward with those extra expenses that suddenly get thrust upon them.
“People often don’t have that extra money for parking, food and supplies,” Tamara said. “Sometimes they have to take off work, which means they can’t pay their rent or mortgage.”
Chase’s Gift if there to help — as are so many members of the public and the police service.
More than 350 people were expected to gather Saturday night at the Operating Engineer’s Hall, located at 2245 Speers Rd., to help raise $50,000 for this year’s fund.
Halton Regional Police Chief Steve Tanner was one of them.
“It’s such a special event for such a special young man,” said Tanner, adding his “special parents are people we are so proud of as well.”
A lot of people chip in from the food being served to an evening of music from JoJo and the Chintoh’s band.
But it’s never lost on anybody that all of this is really going to help families going through the worst time of their lives.
“Each family receives a backpack with $400 worth of gift cards to help right away,” said Tamara, a staff sergeant at police headquarters.
Chase’s dad is an inspector with the service.
The gift cards allow for visits to restaurants, a coffee shop, gift shop and pharmacies. A pre-paid Visa card is also part of the package.
“If people need additional financial help, it is available as well,” said Tamara.
There is also moral support offered and some of that is from Chase himself who’s survival is an inspiration. Now 13 years old, he’s a reminder that cancer can be beaten.
Diagnosed with nephroblastoma, or Wilms Tumour, the young man underwent lifesaving surgery that has allowed him to live with just one kidney.
It has not slowed him down.
“He’s very involved in this event and is happy to be able to help other kids,” said his mom.
Chase and his parents realize when it comes to children’s cancer not every patient is guaranteed a happy ending.
But as patients and their families fight cancer, as explained on their Facebook page, they take some comfort in knowing that thanks to this effort and the generosity of all the people who support it, they will not have to worry about how to find that extra bit of cash to get a sandwich, park the car or, sometimes, even keep a roof over their head.
That’s Chase’s Gift.
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