11 YEAR OLD NADYA THANKS WHL RIDE FOR THE KIDS

On a summer day in Saskatchewan what kid wouldn’t want to be out riding their bike?  Unfortunately, not all kids can.   To a Saskatchewan child with an illness or injury, going on a bike ride may be only a dream.  Lucky for us, we have many strong and healthy WHL and NHL hockey players going on a very long bike ride to raise money for our own Saskatchewan Childrens’ hospital.  This way sick and injured kids’ from all across the province can stay here in Saskatchewan to get medical treatment.

My name is Nadya and I am honored to be the 2011 Champion for the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan, through a program called Champions presented by Walmart Canada.  I am 11 years old and enjoy playing hockey on my Comets girls hockey team.  We are the city champions for our division this year.

I also do Ukrainian and Irish dance, play soccer and violin.  My family and I spend time volunteering for the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan too.  Although my life looks kind of like any other healthy kid’s life, it hasn’t always been this way. 

I was born with a birthmark called hemangioma covering the left side of my face that even went inside my body, into my airway and all the way down to my sternum, which caused me to have troubles breathing.  I had a tracheostomy and feeding tube for 5 years and over 20 surgeries and a few more to come.  I had to travel out of province and country to other Children’s Hospitals for some of my treatment.

This is why I know that having a Children’s Hospital in Saskatchewan is really important.

There are many sponsors who are helping to make this fundraiser happen, so thank you.  And to all of the bike riders who maybe have sore legs and sore butts, thanks from all of the kids of Saskatchewan who you are raising money for.

Many people have a dream for a Children’s Hospital in Saskatchewan, because just like the kids who dream they will be healthy enough to go for a bike ride, dreams can come true.