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Tag: Alberta Children’s Hospital

Young boy accepts certificate and sits on the knee of a bear mascot dressed as a doctor.

Local youth receives Hero Award

Written by William Cockerell on . Posted in Children/Youth, Stories, William Cockerell. No Comments on Local youth receives Hero Award

Many readers will recall that this summer, seven-year-old Rylan Williams of Pincher Creek raised over $5,000 for the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation through his Hair Raising Fundraiser.

Rylan grew his hair out for over two years to donate to Wigs for Kids B.C., and ran his fundraising campaign through the Kids Helping Kids program to coincide with the hair donation.

To honour Rylan and the many other children who raised money through the program, the foundation hosted its annual Kids Helping Kids celebration at Calaway Park in Calgary on Sept. 24. 

At the time, Rylan was blissfully unaware that he was to be presented with one of five 2023 Hero Awards by the ACHF. The award recognizes kids who go above and beyond in raising money for the foundation. 

“I found out that Rylan was going to win the award a month before. They said I could let him know or keep it a surprise, so I decided to keep it a surprise for him,” says Candice Williams, Rylan’s mother. 

“Rylan was very surprised and excited when they announced him as the fifth recipient of the Hero Award.”

 

Tire on snowy road on ad for seasonal maintenance services from Fountain Tire in Pincher Creek

 

The festivities began in the early afternoon with an awards ceremony, where the foundation announced that Kids Helping Kids fundraisers had raised a grand total of over $400,000 this year.

“I was feeling really happy because I worked really hard, and I was so happy for all we did to help people, and it is just a great memory with the children’s hospital,” Rylan says.

“I was just bursting with excitement.”

After the ceremony, the kids and their families were treated to a barbecue lunch before enjoying the rest of the fall day in the park. Candice says Rylan repeatedly called it “the best day ever.”

Candice extends her heartfelt gratitude to all of the people of Pincher Creek who helped and supported Rylan during this fundraiser journey.

“It has been such an amazing adventure and experience for Rylan to do this,” she says, “and it would have been impossible without everyone.”

 

Three guitars in the background of an ad for jam nights at Oldman River Brewing in Lundbreck

 

Learn more:

Article – Two year’s worth of hair going to Wigs for Kids

 

Young boy accepts certificate and sits on the knee of a bear mascot dressed as a doctor.
Young boy in yellow shirt smiles broadly as he holds up two 10-inch ponytails the woman behind him has just cut off for him to donate for kid's cancer wigs.

Shootin’ the Breeze – June 14, 2023

Written by Breeze Content on . Posted in Current Issue.

Rylan shares his locks with Wigs for Kids B.C. 

Rylan Williams is donating 10 inches of hair to Wigs for Kids B.C., a group providing free wigs to children dealing with life-threatening illnesses, and has raised more than $3,700 for the Alberta Children’s Hospital.

Young boy with long, curly blonde hair smiles and gives a thumbs up with a stack of cups in front

Two year’s worth of hair going to Wigs for Kids

Written by Shannon Peace on . Posted in Children/Youth, Community, William Cockerell. No Comments on Two year’s worth of hair going to Wigs for Kids

A seven-year old Pincher Creek resident is raising money for the Alberta Children’s Hospital in support of his upcoming hair donation.

Rylan Williams, a Grade 1 student at St. Michael’s School in Pincher Creek, has been growing his hair out since the age of five with the intent of cutting it and donating it to Wigs for Kids B.C., an organization helping children dealing with cancer and other illnesses.

Rylan’s mother, Candice, says the decision came two years ago, when it was time to decide whether Rylan should get a haircut or grow his hair out.

“I mentioned to him that some people grow their hair long and donate it to make a wig for cancer patients. As soon as I told him this, he got super excited and he said, ‘I want to do that,’ ” Candice says. “From that day forward he never wavered on that decision.”

To coincide with his hair donation, Rylan has raised over $2,000 in support of the Alberta Children’s Hospital through the Kids Helping Kids program.  

Rylan originally set his goal at $2,000, but has since upped it to $5,000 as he continues to receive a great deal of support from the community.  

He has so far raised $2,056.

“I want to help the Children’s Hospital keep going, because I think the Alberta Children’s Hospital is the best hospital,” Rylan says. 

“It’s the best because it helps children be more comfortable and feel more at home, and to give them fun distractions from being sick.” 

 

Shelves of bottled liquor in an ad for Town & Country Liquor Store in Pincher Creek

 

Rylan will be getting his hair cut for free by Little Tee’s Hair Salon on June 9 as part of St. Michael’s sports day opening ceremony, where the entire school will be on hand to see.

“I’m just so amazed and immensely proud of him,” Candice says.

“He’s a very kind and loving boy, and this fundraiser just shows who he is.”

For those interested in helping Rylan in his support of the Alberta Children’s Hospital, the fundraiser will remain open until June 16.

Once the fundraiser is closed, Rylan and Candice have been invited to visit the hospital and do a cheque presentation with the grand total, something Rylan is very excited about.

“I feel so happy and proud that we are helping them, I want to help them as much as I can,” Rylan says.

The best way to donate to this worthy cause is by visiting Rylan’s online donation page or by contacting Candice by phone.

If you are unable to donate, you can still help Rylan out by spreading the word about his efforts so others can help out however possible.

“Thank you, everyone, for reading about my fundraiser, and thank you, everyone who has donated,” Rylan says.