By Mark Dreger
Elise Boisvert didn香蕉视频直播檛 think two years ago she香蕉视频直播檇 be enjoying her dream vacation, but for , that dream is finally coming true.
As families from across the Okanagan gathered at City Park Saturday for runs and activities at the Okanagan Marathon the Boisvert香蕉视频直播檚 were there to support the Sunshine Foundation that provided them with one of over 8,000 dream experiences the foundation has given across Canada in the last 30 years.
Related: Kids run, and more, in their own marathon
This winter 16-year-old Elise and her family will depart on her Dream Caribbean Cruise to swim and play in tropical waters.
Elise suffers from an invisible autoimmune disease that affects many of her joints and results in chronic pain. Swimming in warm water eases her joint pain and allows her the freedom to swim on her own without any assistance. The cruise will provide the perfect setting for her Sunshine Dream as she visits tropical destinations by day, and enjoys live entertainment with her family onboard the ship in the evening.
香蕉视频直播淭he Sunshine Foundation contacted me over a year ago and they heard Elise香蕉视频直播檚 story with what her journey香蕉视频直播檚 been with an invisible autoimmune disease, and offered to maybe make a dream come true for her,香蕉视频直播� Elise香蕉视频直播檚 mother Louise said. 香蕉视频直播淭he Sunshine Foundation was very persistent in supporting us and telling us how the process worked, so about six months ago they sent us a letter and a phone call saying that Elise香蕉视频直播檚 dream vacation package had come of a Caribbean cruise and making her dream come true.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e just thrilled that year after year we香蕉视频直播檙e able to come back to Kelowna to this event,香蕉视频直播� said Christine Freeman, Sunshine Foundation manager of partnerships and philanthropy. 香蕉视频直播淚t braces the whole community not only to raise funds, but to raise awareness for the Sunshine Foundation and we are totally grateful; we can香蕉视频直播檛 do what we do without the community support.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淛ust do a lot of swimming,香蕉视频直播� Elise said when asked what she plans to do on the cruise, 香蕉视频直播渂ecause that香蕉视频直播檚 kind of really the only activity that doesn香蕉视频直播檛 hurt because the water takes the weight off. I香蕉视频直播檓 really excited to spend a lot of time with my family and just have a really good time.香蕉视频直播�
With the Sunshine Foundation香蕉视频直播檚 gift to the Boisvert family, Louise and Elise will make supporting the foundation a regular part of their volunteer requiem to help other sick kids香蕉视频直播� dreams come true.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e done a lot of reading about all the families that the Sunshine Foundation has helped in the past and felt bad that I haven香蕉视频直播檛 been more involved with them,香蕉视频直播� Louise said. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e been kind of in my own bubble of focusing on [Elise香蕉视频直播檚] autoimmune disease that I didn香蕉视频直播檛 realize how many kids out there have been helped by the Sunshine Foundation.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a way of saying thank you for doing this for our family,香蕉视频直播� Elise added.
The BMO Okanagan Marathon is a valued event partner of The Sunshine Foundation of Canada raising vital funds to make dreams come true for children living with severe physical disabilities or life-threatening illnesses. Over the years the marathon has raised over $386,000 for the charity which has provided over 8,000 dream experiences across Canada.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e able to run our dream program where we make dreams come true for children like Elise and others in the community,香蕉视频直播� Freeman said, 香蕉视频直播渁nd without events like this and the fantastic support, we couldn香蕉视频直播檛 do what we do.香蕉视频直播�
