Even in the earliest days of Sofia being sick, it was clear to me that I needed to do more with my own time on earth. As I spent more days at Children's Hospital, that feeling only grew stronger. I saw incredible people selflessly volunteering their time for kids and families they had never met, and I knew I wanted to do the same.
- A pet therapy program where people volunteer their time to bring their dogs to the hospital to provide some much needed comfort to kids (and their parents)
- Therapy clowns named Fizzie and Cosmo would visit a couple days a week. They could make Sofia laugh like no one else
- The Child Life volunteers, often teenagers and young adults, volunteered their time to play with the kids in hospital or their siblings. Carter must have done at least 100 scavenger hunts with these incredible people
- Smoothie Sundays where volunteers from West Coast Kids Cancer Foundation would whip up super tasty smoothies in the T8 kitchen for patients, family members and staff
I could provide dozens more examples of incredible people doing incredible things. It was very inspiring and I would make a commitment to myself back then that I would do more once this was all over.
Back then, I held onto hope that this would end in recovery, allowing her to live a long and full life. While that wasn’t the outcome, it only deepened my sense of responsibility to make a difference for others. Now, my efforts are dedicated to honoring her memory—a way for Sofia’s legacy to live on and for me to find a renewed sense of purpose.
As early as last May, I started to think about how I would like to fulfill this commitment to myself and to her. While I would bounce around a ton of different ideas in my head, I kept coming back to the same guiding principles:
- I envisioned a dedicated day each year for us to come together, remember Sofia, and celebrate her life—just as we did on May 24, 2024, at her Celebration of Life.
- Instead of simply donating money, I preferred to provide gifts directly to children and families facing the same struggles we once did.
- I wanted to create opportunities for our friends and family, no matter where they live, to show their support and participate—even if they couldn’t attend an in-person event.
With those guiding principles in mind, I shared with Sam my ideas and we started to collaborate on what our first year's efforts might look like and I couldn't be happier with where we landed. I know many of you are already aware of our plans but I hope to elaborate a bit more below than I'm able to on our Hope In Every Spot website or on Instagram.
Hope In Every Spot
Event Date:
May 24th between the hours of 1:00pm to 6:00pm at Blaney Hamlet Park
The inspiration behind the name and logo comes from something deeply meaningful to us. As many know, ladybugs have brought Sam and me a great sense of hope and comfort. Samantha has long felt that ladybugs are signs from the heavens, a belief shared across many cultures, where they symbolize hope, guidance, protection, and the presence of guardian angels.
For me, seeing a ladybug feels like a message from Sofia—her way of telling me I’m on the right path, encouraging me to keep going. With that in mind, it was only natural that a ladybug became the heart of our logo.
The name Hope In Every Spot is also a tribute to the ladybug. Across many cultures, a ladybug’s spots are often seen as symbols of luck. To me, hope represents the internal belief that we are worthy of good fortune—that better days are possible.
When you see a ladybug, whether in our logo or in the wild, we hope you’ll find a reminder of that belief—hope in every one of its spots. For families of children facing serious illnesses like cancer, hope is not just important; it’s essential.
Our fundraising efforts are balanced between pre-event fundraising and event day fundraising. And the items we donate will be allocated toward two primary objectives.
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Our goal is to donate $5,000 or more in toys and activities to the Oncology floor at BC Children's Hospital and to deliver gift baskets to every child admitted to T8 on Sofia's birthday (July 16). We will achieve this by collecting donations through our Amazon Gift Registry in the lead-up to our event and by fundraising on event day through the sale of branded items, food, and activities by donation.
The Amazon Gift Registry is a great way for everyone to support our efforts, especially those who live far away or can’t attend our event in person. To ensure we’re providing the most needed items, we consulted with our social worker at Children's Hospital and the Child Life team to curate a list of their highest-demand requests. The registry includes all of their recommendations, along with additional items we’ve selected for the gift baskets we’ll be delivering to families on July 16th.
It's only been five days since our registry went live, and already, an incredible 139 gifts have been purchased! I'm truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of immediate and generous support. Words can't express how much this means to me. I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has shared our website and registry links; your help in spreading the word is invaluable. We'll be updating the registry regularly as we receive new requests from the hospital or as items sell through. The registry will remain open until at least the day of the event.
Donations for the Oncology Floor will be delivered throughout the year, allowing the hospital to manage storage and ensuring that as many children as possible benefit. For those unfamiliar, the BC Children's Hospital Oncology Floor (T8) has both Outpatient and Inpatient sections.
During Sofia's outpatient checkups between chemo, she'd undergo routine procedures like bloodwork, weigh-ins, vital checks, and occasional bandage changes, followed by a doctor's consultation. For extended visits, she enjoyed playing with toys and puzzles and spending time in the playroom. A highlight was always choosing a toy from the take-home bin. The donations from our fundraiser will be used to replenish these resources, ensuring children have access to comfort and entertainment during their outpatient visits.
You are on the inpatient side when you require an overnight stay. And for most kids, it's often many, many nights. For Sofia, she spent the first 49 days after her diagnosis on the inpatient side and countless weeks on and off over the following 7 months as she continued her treatment. During those days, Sofia loved playing in the playroom, especially the grocery store toy. The playroom has tons of toys, books and activities available for the kids to enjoy; either in the playroom or in their own room. Sofia's favorites to enjoy in her room were play-doh sets and a Melissa and Doug Ice Cream toy. The Child Life team and social workers provide extra toys to bring smiles to children during tough days, and they don't forget the siblings. Carter found these gifts a welcome treat in a difficult setting. The hospital hallways become a place of play, with toy cars and bikes. Sofia loved her tricycle, and Carter enjoyed racing alongside her and other siblings he connected with. Our fundraiser helps maintain these, offering a sense of normalcy and joy.
Beyond our year-round donations to the Oncology Floor, we have a very special plan for July 16th, Sofia's birthday. To honor her memory, we'll deliver gift baskets to every inpatient child admitted that day, reaching as many as 27 families. Each basket will include DoorDash and Starbucks gift cards. A simple Starbucks trip downstairs for a drink or a treat can offer an impactful break. And I don't think I have to sell you on why a meal delivered from your favourite restaurant would be a welcome change from hospital food. We'll also include a plush lion and a crochet ladybug. The ladybug, as you know, is a symbol of hope. The lion? That was Sofia. She loved to roar like a lion, showing her strength, and even dressed as a lion for her last Halloween. Lions also symbolize bravery, a trait she embodied beyond her years. Additionally, the baskets will be personalized with toys and activities thanks to your generous donations. We know firsthand how much these gifts can mean, and we're thrilled to pay it forward.
On the day of the event, we will have a few items available to purchase by donation.
- Some really cool silicone wristbands, bookmarks and embroidered iron on patches; all designed with inspiration from the Hope in Every Spot logo
- Some concession style food like pop, juice, chips, candy etc
- Face painting and rock painting stations
A big thank you to Dream Party who have donated their services that day. If you attended Sofia's Celebration of Life, you'll remember how much the kids enjoyed their performances that day and we are very grateful they will be here again with us.
All proceeds from the event will directly contribute to filling our gift baskets and supplying the Oncology Floor with much-needed items year-round. Stay tuned for more updates on Instagram in the coming months as we approach the event. Your support is invaluable, and together, we'll create a lasting impact.
One of my favourite photos of Sofia. Cruising the halls on the hospital's tricycle. Also shown carrying one of her favourite plush toys and one we chose to include on the gift registry.
Sofia enjoying a car playset in the outpatient playroom
The lion we chose to make part of our gift baskets. Love these!
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