SCOTIABANK YOUNG COMMUNITY HERO: GABRIEL PARKER-HAINES

Gabriel Parker-Haines was named the very first member of the Mooseheads – Scotiabank Young Community Heroes Program for his efforts to raise money for the Terry Fox Foundation.

The Grade 2 student is seven-year-old, or “seven and three-quarters” as he will tell you, and is a cancer survivor. Gabriel was diagnosed with accute myeloid leukemia when he was just 10-months old and was only given a 25 per cent chance of survival.

It was at the IWK Children’s Hospital that the Halifax Mooseheads and Gabriel first met during one of their many team visits.

After battling through five rounds of chemotherapy, blood transfusions and several medications to fight infections, Gabriel defeated the nasty disease and has been making a difference with his precious life ever since.

This year marks the third time the inspiring boy has participated in the Terry Fox run. He raised $700 his first year and $800 the second but had set his sights on a target of $1,100 this year. Before blowing that figure out of the water.

“It was like blink, blink and he had reached his goal in four days,” said his mother Stephanie Parker.

Gabriel upped his goal to $3500 and Stephanie said his donations are sitting around $2700 right now.

 
“He has little friends from school joining his team now and even donating their allowance to help Gabriel, which as a parent is just phenomenal to see.”

He completed the Terry Fox Community 5 km run on Sunday, September 20th and will also run with his school on Wednesday, September 30th.

Gabriel was recently invited into the Mooseheads locker room where he was able to meet some of the players who were in awe of his hard work and determination. Veteran Kelly Bent surprised him with his very own authentic Mooseheads jersey which the players also signed.

He was honoured on the Scotiabank Centre ice during the Mooseheads home opener against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan and the generosity of Moose fans was shown almost immediately.

“About six or seven people came up to him right after that happened and started handing him cash donations, which really meant a lot,” Parker said.

You can donate to Gabriel’s Terry Fox fundraising efforts up until October, 8th.

Find out how you can nominate someone for the Scotiabank Young Community Heroes Program.