Our story
Our story
Why WCK Began
In 2017, a group of dedicated people came together with a shared passion to do more for B.C. families navigating childhood cancer and blood disorders.
They knew the gaps in support that desperately needed to be filled. They had served as recreation volunteers, worked in pediatric medicine, and led childhood cancer programs. They all strongly agreed that families deserved more.
With the support and consultation of parents, doctors, nurses, and young adults with lived experience, West Coast Kids Cancer Foundation was born.
We quickly pivoted to change the programming to meet families' priorities
Here's how those early decisions led to where we are now:
Why It Matters
"When my son got diagnosed, we had to leave our home behind and get flown out overnight to live in Vancouver. I had no time to pack anything or get organized. It was traumatic and horrible to say the least. I was stuck there with no food."
– Parent
"My son had some complications and ended up back in hospital twice. The complications have meant that we continue to attend the hospital multiple times a week. Between the long appointments and the drive each way, having food available is a lifesaver."
– Parent
"My brain is so fried from keeping track of hospital appointments, blood counts, meds, etc. As grocery and gas prices continue to increase, and our income decreases due to substantial time away from work, knowing that I can feed my family is such a relief."
– Parent
"A childhood cancer diagnosis doesn’t discriminate. Everyone will need that practical help. Your world is turned upside down in the blink of an eye and your child’s health becomes your focus. You might have to leave your job, your partner might be away working, you may have other children to look after. Practical support takes some of the burden off of you. It's support that you don’t always know how to ask for."
– Oncology Parent
"When my blood levels are low, I feel very tired and sore. I do not have enough energy to play or leave the house. My body forces me to rest. Getting regular blood work, even when you’re feeling fine, and having to get transfusions when you’re low is hard on the body and the mind."
– Young Person
"Some kids in treatment are put on an isolation protocol because contracting infections could be life-threatening for them. It can get overwhelming and lonely for families who are in that situation. These families live in the room for weeks, even months at a time."
– Oncology Doctor
"Our families have unique needs. Kids can go from having no appetite to feeling ravenous within minutes, and we can provide a meal from WCK right when they feel ready to eat. Kids come out of procedures who have fasted for 12 hours or more. Families are transferred when it’s too late to order food. These are when we feel most thankful for WCK. They enable us to provide a nourishing meal at any time."
– Oncology Nurse
We know that crisis points can happen at any time, including:
- The shock of diagnosis
- Navigating treatment
- Adjusting to life back at home
- Processing everything that happened
- Living with side effects and late effects from treatment
- Bereavement
- Facing the fear of what could happen
We also know that everyone in the family is affected and deserves support.
Families want to be equipped to navigate their way forward together, and they deserve to know that they are not alone. Having a community to walk alongside them eases the burden, and provides the support and resources to feel resilient.
WE SUPPORT FAMILIES ACROSS BRITISH COLUMBIA
From Dawson Creek to the Kootenays and out onto the islands, we're covering an area the size of France, Germany, and the Netherlands combined!
How we Help
Food brings comfort, support, and the gift of time together.
When going through a childhood cancer or blood disorder journey, even eating regular meals can feel impossible. WCK provides nourishing meals to families at the hospital and at home – at no cost to them.
Food support gives families much more than nutrients and calories. It saves valuable time and provides comfort, care, and connection beyond the expression of words.
Read some things that might surprise you about our food support.
Busting Some Myths
WCK is not just for families actively on treatment, kids with a cancer diagnosis, or families in Vancouver. Find out more about who we support:
Our Impact
Unlike traditional annual reports, this living report shows impact stats that are updated every three months!
Last updated: September 2024
Check out the impact of
19,014
food items delivered to the hospital in 2024
"Having that support made me feel like I had a village out there watching over me. It reassured me that people cared. I tell everybody how much that food saved me. I want to say thank you so much to everyone who has donated to WCK. You have no idea how much it actually provides people with, beyond the food itself."
Learn more about how food in the hospital helped Kristen and her family
“Our little daughter has endured surgeries, countless transfusions, infections, unknowns, adverse reactions, intense therapies, and unplanned hospital stays. We are so grateful to be walking our journey being supported by WCK and their community. The support we received while in hospital provided stability and met basic needs that were near impossible to meet on our own. For the continued support we receive while doing outpatient, we cannot thank the community enough. This journey is far from over, but we are so grateful we do not have to walk it alone.”
“I wish people understood the love that WCK are putting into what they do for people who are, at the time, strangers. They do build the relationships, and they’re very good at it, but the moment they first connect with a family, they are strangers. They are reaching out to help people that they don’t know. They have such a capacity for doing it in a compassionate, loving way. They’re an incredible group of people that just want to help.” – Oncology Parent
“Things are getting better with your support.” – Parent
“So often, from being on the other side of it, you get questions of, “What do you need?” “How can I help?” And you don’t know. It’s impossible to answer. I feel like the WCK programs take a little piece of that burden away and actually take things off your plate, too. They take out such a big stress that you don’t even realize you’re carrying.” – Oncology Parent
Our Volunteers
Longtime WCK volunteer Dan explains why he gives his time and talents to the community
Our Staff
"Last time we had been inpatient on one of your smoothie making days, I was shocked to discover that the WCK contact who I had been messaging with wasn't AI or a robot! MIND BLOWN – it is so amazing you take the time to personally reach out vs just everything being automated it feels like these days. I honestly have been so impressed by everyone we have met in your WCK crew, we look forward to getting to know you all better."
We're proud to pay a skilled and passionate staff team who bring sustainable WCK programs to life. This is why we partner with donors who understand the value of human connection and its associated salary costs. Read WCK Board Member Bob Lawrence's blog about why this provides bang for your buck.
Our Partners
"Knowing there are donors behind it who we haven’t met that care about supporting us…it feels like it’s going to bring tears to my eyes. It’s so loving to care about supporting people in this way. To know there are people who want to do this for families they will never meet refreshes my sense of our collective humanity. It’s so generous." – Oncology Parent
“Our values are what lead us in business, our practices, and beyond; they are at the very core of what we do every day. We are incredibly proud to support WCK and the families impacted by childhood cancer and blood disorders. It is a privilege to work with an organization like WCK and share in the values that ground both of our organizations.” – Emily Savage, principal lawyer, Miller Titerle + Company
“I truly believe that "it takes a village." I have always felt the need to give back where I can, and make choices that help to support others. I have friends who have been stricken with this life-changing experience, so the cause is near and dear to my heart. I am privileged to champion West Coast Kids Cancer Foundation with Nicola Wealth.” – Jacqueline Dagg, Team Lead, Nicola Wealth Private Giving Foundation.
"We are thrilled to welcome WCK to the SVP community and honoured to be supporting an organization that does such important work. We look forward to helping them grow and scale their organization." – Helen Stortini, SVP Vancouver Executive Director
"WCK lives and breathes their value statement in all areas of the foundation with passion, grace, care, and playfulness. They make a daily difference in the lives of those impacted by childhood cancer and blood disorders, and they creatively inspire others to join them.” – Anonymous Donor
Read about how Nicola Wealth Management Ltd have transformed WCK through their donations
What's Next?
Be a changemaker: join the wck community
We want to serve more families AND increase the depth of support for them.
It's never just been about what we do, but how we do it. We want to always show up intentionally, with love, and in response to what matters most to families.
We can only do that in community. Through building a network of passionate people who want to make a difference, we can make life that much easier for families on the childhood cancer and blood disorder journey.
Here are some ways you can show up for families
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