P.E.I. woman takes Island Walk to raise funds for Make A Wish
MONTAGUE, P.E.I. — The Montague waterfront was brightened on Sunday, Could 29, by bubbles, three princesses and a pleasant lion.
Elsa, Ana, Moana and Roary the Lion discovered the time to go to the gazebo on the Montague Marina to assist unfold some pleasure. Music from a Disney film performed whereas youngsters blew bubbles, loved some sweet and lined up for face portray.
It was all organized by Gabrielle Anderson, a P.E.I. mother of three, who’s taking her trip time to tread the Island Stroll and raise funds for Make a Wish for youths like Sunday’s particular visitor: leukemia survivor Sophia Panton, age 7.
“She is only one yr in remission. She simply had her checkup final week and all the pieces was good,” mentioned Sophia’s father, Kyle Panton, who was in Montague with spouse, Vanessa, and Sophia’s siblings, Elizabeth, 5, and Jackson, 1. “We didn’t even actually wish to take into consideration the want till we acquired so far. A lot is overwhelming with all of it, it’s laborious to consider that sort of stuff.”
Sophia’s want was for a camper and when SaltWire Community requested her what she regarded ahead to most about it, her reply was easy.
“Marshmallows!”
Sophia was nominated for a want quickly after she was identified with leukemia.
“We predict it’s 2019. Clearly, it wasn’t high of thoughts. We have been going by heaps then,” Kyle Panton mentioned.
Sophia’s leukemia meant many docs appointments and chemo therapies administered by a tool referred to as a port-a-cath.
“A little bit button beneath her pores and skin right here,” mentioned Panton, touching his chest slightly below his left collarbone.
Along with the port and chemo, there have been surgical procedures and blood transfusions as nicely, he mentioned, holding Jackson on his hip. Panton regarded throughout the gazebo to the place Sophia having fun with a freezie. She smiled at her mother and dashed off to play with the opposite youngsters.
“She’s powerful,” mentioned Panton.
Now that Sophia is now not immune-compromised, she has began faculty and her mother and father are trying ahead to introducing her to different childhood staples – like toasting marshmallows over a campfire.
It was Sophia’s thought to want for a camper, Panton mentioned. He and Vanessa aren’t choosy concerning the make or mannequin, they’re simply trying ahead to household time, journeys to see Vanessa’s household in Nova Scotia or time close to P.E.I.’s seashores.
“Some life experiences, as a result of she acquired lots ripped away from her the final 4 years,” mentioned Kyle.
Strolling the Stroll
Anderson had challenged herself to stroll the Island Walk after a co-worker instructed her about it, and has been planning her hike since January. She laced up her sneakers to stroll on weekends starting Could 7 and was as much as 168 kilometres as of Could 29.
It was her niece, Keirsten Boutilier, who had the concept to assist Make a Wish, mentioned Anderson.
Keirsten was dressed as Elsa and was face-painting on Sunday when SaltWire Community requested her why she thought Make a Want was a good suggestion.
“I wished to assist as a result of it’s a very good trigger, the Make a Want. I believed it was vital,” she mentioned.
There are presently 32 kids on the Island ready for needs.
“We actually wished to assist post-COVID to boost a few of these funds,” she mentioned.
Good to know
Make a Want fundraiser Gabrielle Anderson has already lined 168 kilometres of the Island Stroll and can proceed heading west from Montague for the following two weeks for a complete of 500 kilometres on foot.
Anybody who want to donate to Anderson’s walk can do so through the Make A Wish Trailblaze for Wishes campaign. Their household crew title is Purple Muddy WishMakers.
Right here’s the place she’s been already:
Could 7-8 • Dalvay space (40 km)
Could 14-15 • St. Peters to Elmira
Could 21-23 • Elmira to Howe Bay
Could 28-29 • Howe Bay to Cardigan to Montague
Panton mentioned he didn’t understand what number of households have been in the same satiation to his till Sophia acquired sick.
“We’re lucky as a result of she’s doing so good, however not all youngsters do. It’s so vital that they’ve one thing to stay up for,” he mentioned.
Anderson has taken the following few weeks off to dedicate herself to the stroll and has a route deliberate out to complete in Tignish.
“Over the following two weeks, I’m staying with household and buddies and we even have lodging on the western level of the Island.”
On June 19, Anderson is planning one other household occasion on the Victoria Park boardwalk as a grand finale to the marketing campaign.
Starting on the Beaconsfield finish of the park all the way in which to the cannons, characters of every kind will line the pathway for kids to satisfy.
“Age doesn’t matter, everybody’s welcome, it’s by donation,” she mentioned.
Mascots, princesses, villains, area troopers and heroes are able to reply the decision for Make a Want.
Anderson mentioned it’s been powerful to fulfil needs throughout COVID and hopes her stroll helps.
As for the princesses, “We simply wished to deliver some pleasure to some want households alongside the way in which,” she mentioned.
