Why I am Joining the Race for the Kids

What happens when kids in British Columbia get sick? When a plaster cast, a course of antibiotics, or a lollipop won’t heal them?

Luckily for my family and countless others like mine, BC Children’s Hospital exists. It is the only Hospital in the province devoted exclusively to children. Pediatric Healthcare is not just medicine in miniature, and having a facility dedicated to youth is crucial for the well-being of our community. In 2024, over 100,000 kids visited the hospital for specialized Pediatric Services. My name is Clementine Germain, and I’ve been a member of the GNS community for 6 years, and over those 6 years, I have regularly been one of the 100,000. BC Children’s is a cause that is very close to my heart and my family’s. We have spent countless nights there, always treated with compassion and care through the most unnavigable circumstances. 

In response to the compassion, kindness and medical care I received, last spring I registered for the Victoria RBC Race for the Kids to raise money for BC Children’s Hospital to give back after they helped me reclaim so many parts of my life. What I wish I could give back to BC Children’s is not measurable or tangible. However, I do my best to fundraise and raise awareness to ensure it can keep providing the highest quality of care to people like me. Last year, I raised $2,763, and my ambitious, enthusiastic, optimistic self raised my goal to $5,000 for this year. BC Children’s Hospital Foundation always says “Small Steps Make Mighty Strides,” and fundraisers such as this event are steps towards conquering childhood illness. 

How can you help me achieve my goal? You could register to run and fundraise yourself. Participants of all abilities are welcome to join, and you can register at the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation website for the Victoria race on June 8. As I gear up towards this race, I would also invite you to check out my fundraising page and educate yourself and others in your community on how essential it is that BC Children’s Hospital exists. 

And lastly, what impact do donations have? BC Children’s is one of the world’s top pediatric hospitals at the forefront of countless medical advances. They believe in a future where every child who enters the hospital walls receives personalized treatment that targets the roots of their illness. They want to eradicate chronic conditions that affect countless children, like the one that has impacted my life. They also provide teens and kids with specialized mental health care not found anywhere else. BC Children’s also has an on-site Research Institute where over 1,500 researchers do their best to constantly improve Pediatric Healthcare. RBC Race for the Kids started in 1986, and since then, it has raised significant funds to ensure the highest quality of care and innovation for those who need it most.

If you would like to learn more about this event and about the importance of the BC Children’s Hospital, please visit my page on their website: https://fundraise.bcchf.ca/fundraisers/clementinegermain/race-for-the-kids. You could even lace up your runners and join me out there!