Children's cancer unit feeling the love thanks to some young community members

The children’s cancer unit at the Kingston General Hospital (KGH) site is feeling extra loved today as a result of some kind and thoughtful community members.

This past week, both Robbie and Tori separately provided gifts to help benefit children who are currently undergoing treatment for cancer at the KGH hospital.

For his 11th birthday, Robbie decided instead of gifts that he wanted to ask for donations to help purchase a treasure chest for the children’s cancer unit at the KGH site. He wanted this treasure chest to be filled with toys so that other children would be able to take a toy home with them at the end of their appointment.

Inspired by time he spent at CHEO, where there was a toy chest for children at the end of their appointments, he noticed when he received treatment in Kingston that there wasn’t something similar, and he wanted to help fix that.

“It helps if you’re having a bad day to have a toy to take home to brighten it up a little bit,” says Robbie. “I wanted to give back (to the unit) for everything they had done for me and it’s nice to be able to leave an appointment and choose a toy.”

For his birthday Robbie and his family celebrated with a big block party where he didn’t ask for anything except for donations to help make his vision of a treasure chest a reality. After raising close to $600, Robbie was able to cut the ribbon on his new treasure chest that will have a permanent home on the children’s cancer unit at KGH.  

For Tori, a grade 10 student with an entrepreneurial spirit that she has put towards starting her own business, Crocheted Zoo, she wanted to use her creative skills to help put a smile on some of our youngest patients’ faces. To do this, she crocheted 25 bumble bees that will be distributed to children on the unit.

“I wanted to do something to help the kids have a better day,” says Tori. “I hope it makes someone smile and feel better, I just think it must be super hard to have to fight every day and to have a break to get a stuffed bee (I thought) would make them happy.”

Each of the bees has its own unique personality and Tori hopes that some of the personality from the bees will continue with their new owners. To make each one, Tori spends about 45 minutes making sure it turns out just right, and has done all of this work on top of her busy school schedule, work, and running her business.

Thank you, Robbie and Tori, for your generous and thoughtful gifts. Valentine’s Day is usually marked with gifts that last a day but yours will have a lasting impact on the experiences and lives of the many children and families who come to the children’s cancer unit at KGH.