On Family Day weekend, community volunteers along with Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada came together to host 150 seriously ill children and their families for three days of fun at Severn Marina. Kids and their families were treated to thrilling snowmobile rides, sled trails, and custom ATV trails.
“While anxieties of health or planning accessible outings can get to be too much for seriously ill children and their families, unique events like this help to deliver fun, create hope, and spread joy when it wouldn’t otherwise be possible,” says Brian Bringolf, Chief Executive Officer of Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada. “Motomax reignites the excitement and thrill of childhood that sick kids and their siblings can often miss out on.”
Volunteers Needed for Summer Fun on Georgian Bay
Due to the dedicated support of Severn Marina, the Baxter Snow Riders, and the local community, Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada will be returning to the marina all summer long to take sick children out on the water for pontoon boat rides every week!
“These events offer special opportunities for families to explore Georgian Bay on a pontoon cruise, while allowing them to bond and connect as a family again outside the walls of a hospital room,” explains Brian.
“The uptake of the Severn community has been absolutely incredible. We were so overwhelmed by the kindness and the warm welcome we received from the community that we decided to ship our pontoon boat out and make Severn Marina the home base for Starlight Canada’s future Motomax events in Ontario!” he says.
Brian continues, “We are looking for volunteers and captains to help with our boat excursions that will be taking place all summer long. Volunteer captains need to have their Pleasure Craft Operator Card and be able to operate one of Starlight’s pontoon boats out of Severn Marina throughout the season.”
Supporting Kids Living with Serious Illnesses
Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada supports sick children and their families in a variety of unique ways. They spread joy and give comfort through in-hospital programs, out-of-hospital events like Winter Motomax and Summer Motomax, and by granting children’s wishes. Their important work adds happiness and hope to the lives of sick children, their siblings, and their parents.
If you would like to volunteer at upcoming Motomax events, contact Kaitlin Kiraly, Children’s Services Coordinator for Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada, at [email protected]. For more information about Starlight Canada or to make a general donation, visit www.starlightcanada.org.