7th Annual Teamster's Charity Golf Tournament

The date is set for the 7th Annual Teamsters Charity Golf Tournament at D'Arcy Ranch in Okotoks, AB.  We are set to go for Thursday, May 30th, 2013 and I look forward to another great day of Golf, lots of fun and incredible food with our amazing participants who have offered continued support each year and also to those who may be new to this most special day to "Make a Difference" to many of our children in Calgary and surrounding area!

This 11th year of Brianne's LEAP of Hope's spring fundraising events will continue to support both The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada who graciously sent our family to Disneyland, CA for Brianne's Wish Trip and also The Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation.   This year we have chosen to help fund the "Brain Health Program".

The Alberta Children’s Hospital is committed to becoming a global leader in the discovery and application of new treatments for brain health. Adding research

resources – clinical, translational and basic science - is essential to drive innovation and advances in treatment for the future. Three of the areas the pediatric brain injury research program will concentrate on are:

Stroke: Established provincial collaborations exist to create the largest population-based sample of perinatal stroke ever studied – around 800 children. Using this cohort, focused research areas in fetal and newborn stroke will include clinical, prothrombotic, genetic, and biomarker risk profiles; the role of placental disease; epidemiology of perinatal stroke syndromes; and imaging studies to predict outcome and understand recovery. Capitalizing on these existing collaborations will provide an opportunity to improve our understanding of perinatal stroke, treatment options, and ultimately, uncover opportunities to advance care for these infants.

Concussion: While the existing brain injury and rehabilitation clinic can accommodate all forms of moderate or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), they are presently unable to handle mild TBI - the most common form of TBI. 20% of children have a mild traumatic brain injury before the age of 10 years. At this time, there are no known effective treatments for persistent Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS) or methods to assess the effectiveness of potential treatments. By focusing on prevention, education, training, clinical care and research, a formalized complex concussion clinic would provide a unique approach as it would offer comprehensive medical evaluation and intervention.

Epilepsy: It is the conventional belief that seizures in the majority of epileptic patients can be controlled with medications; however, the adverse cognitive psychiatric and psychological problems, memory difficulties, mood and behavioral problems and anxiety are often minimized or overlooked. Up to 30-40% of patients with epilepsy will remain unresponsive to medications and only a small fraction of these may be eligible for epilepsy surgery. Currently, those patients who are not candidates for epilepsy surgery have only two major alternative treatment options. We need to better understand what treatments will work for whom and under what conditions treatments will be most effective.

With your support, you will help us move closer to our vision of become national leaders in Brain Health.

The total needed for the pediatric brain injury research is $7.5 million. Brianne’s LEAP of Hope is proud to be part of this so incredibly important program.

We look forward to seeing you all on May 30th!! 

Patti, Lorea, Ken and The Teamsters Union and Teamsters Rail Conference~

6th Annual Teamsters Charity Golf Tournament Cheque Presentation

Patti Sporting our Triditional Golf Attire for the Volunteers 

Lorea Grant (Board Member of BLOH)
and Patti Zabot

I am pleased to announce the amount raised at the 6th Annual Teamsters Charity Golf Tournament which was held on May 31st, 2012 at D'Arcy Ranch Golf Course in Okotoks.  We had an amazing day of golf, followed by an awesome dinner and thankfully the weather more than cooperated for us this year. We were thrilled to hold our Tournament on the actual day versus rescheduling as the past two years due to either a spring snow storm or torrential rain storm! :)

All but two members of the Golf Committee were present yesterday for an incredible lunch at Pasquales on McLeod, where I graciously accepted a cheque on behalf of Brianne's LEAP of Hope for $34,000.00!  This is incredible to me that a tournament can raise this amount, and I smiled proudly as I was reminded that of the 18 holes out at the course, many of the holes displayed 3 sponsorships! I can't thank the Teamsters Union 362 and the Teamsters Rail Conference adequately for all they have done for this charity for the past ten years. When preparing a speech to thank the Committee, participants and sponsors for attending the tournament (many golfers have come for all 6 years and travel from Eastern Canada to attend), it was hard to put in words how much the relationship I have had with the Teamsters means to me as they have been such an incredible source of support and friendship.  It was overwhelming for me and I am so grateful for all of their continued support throughout the years; for this Tournament of course, but also for providing the Teamsters Truck for all my Runs held at North Glenmore Park and at The Calgary Girls School year after year.  What an incredible way to celebrate 10 years of Brianne's LEAP of Hope! This donation combined with the $10,350.00 raised at the Calgary Girls School in June, puts us close to $350,000.00 raised in total since 2002.
I am so thankful for all those who have helped Brianne's LEAP of Hope and our efforts to achieve this incredible goal so we can continue to help those families with children with life limiting illnesses in Calgary and surrounding areas.

Cheque being presented by Doug Finnson

(TCRC Vice President) and Rick Eichel

(Teamsters Union 362 Principal Officer)

                                           Teamsters Charity Golf Committee

Left to right- Rick Eichel, Doug Finnson, Jackie Brown, John Doerksen, Patti Zabot, Roy Finlay

                                                  (Missing - Lance Wallace and Dave Fulton)

2012 Calgary Girls School Run Update

Thank you to all students, staff and volunteers at The Calgary Girls School for another very successful Run/Walk for Brianne's LEAP of Hope June 26th, 2012.  You all amaze me once again, however not surprised that you raised $10, 350.00!  Well done girls, great job sharing Brianne's story to your friends and family to help us to continue to support other families in the Calgary area with children with life limiting illnesses.
Of course a special thank you to North Glenmore Park Community Hall for allowing us once again to use their parking lot and gym (to finish the Rythmic Wishes for the Grade 9's). Also, a most heartfelt appreciation for Teamsters Union 362; for providing the Truck and trailer as always... without it our event would not be the same.  Sponsors to thank that provided items for our raffle baskets, Unilver Canada and Gerry Cool (Silpada Ca.).
Funds this year will support the KIDSIM Program at The Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation and also as always we will continue to give generously to The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada.

Each year, The Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation works respectively with great thought to help Brianne's LEAP of Hope choose which program to support during our fundraising season.  I found one of this years program incredibly interesting and could see how this would have surely aided in Brianne's care as she suffered from uncontrollable seizure activity throughout her illness.  It is frightening as a parent to watch your child suffer from seizures without being able to do much aside to support them to be sure they are always safe.  Below I have included some information on this initiative which I am thrilled to support this year.

The KIDSIM Program

Thanks to generous donors like you, specialists at the Alberta Children’s Hospital are preparing to offer new hope and help to these families in the form of specialized, hands-on education. Plans are now underway for a simulation-based training program that will help prepare parents to develop the skills and confidence to handle their child’s complex seizure disorders.

Since 2005, human patient simulation at the Alberta Children’s Hospital has trained thousands of health care professionals how to handle life-threatening medical emergencies by running mock trauma and resuscitation drills on sophisticated, life-like mannequins. Because they’re so realistic, these high-tech dolls can simulate breathing, pulses, blood pressure, as well as speech and sound so they can replicate a child’s response to illness, injury and treatment.

Having provided national leadership in simulation training for healthcare professionals for over six years, the Alberta Children’s Hospital KidSIM™ Program is  building on the success of the hospital’s nation-leading program for health professionals and extending similar education and training to families of children who suffer from chronic diseases with the possibility of acute deterioration - beginning with seizures.

A child may have a variety of seizures, some more dangerous than others. Hospital experts will work with parents to practice real-life scenarios on high-tech mannequins programmed to have simulated seizures. Parents will learn how to get their child in the recovery position, monitor and support their breathing, and to draw and safely administer rescue medication – all while calling the hospital for help and any additional support their child may need.

Deanna Koot is a registered nurse and the Project Coordinator for the upcoming initiative.

“It’s natural to feel panicked when a child starts seizing, even when you’re a trained caregiver, so it’s incredibly frightening for parents and family members to see their own child having a seizure,” says Deanna. “Certain seizures are so violent there isn’t time to get the child to hospital. Providing the opportunity for a parent or caregiver to practice a stressful scenario until they’re comfortable will empower families to provide necessary support and medications. We work hard to provide families with the tools to care for their child when and where they require it, and we believe that for many families, simulation training is that tool.”

Now, thanks to community support, the KidSIM™ and Neurology teams are planning to begin this type of training with families this fall as part of an important ground-breaking research project. What’s more, this project will be the first of its kind in the world!

“Our hospital is providing international leadership in both simulation-based, inter-professional training and research, with the aim to further highlight and share the impact of our important work,” says Dr. Vincent Grant, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Calgary and Medical Director of the KidSIM™ Program at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. “Our first objective is to provide families and professionals with the experience they need to manage medical crises as efficiently, safely, and confidently as possible. We also want to share the scientific evidence we gather with the broader medical community so the benefits may be felt across North America and beyond. It’s very exciting.”

Brianne's Run at The Calgary Girls School will take place Tuesday, June 26th, 2012!

This event marks 7 years in keeping with this tradition to wind up the school year at CGS by holding Brianne's Run. The girls will run 5K in support of Brianne's LEAP of Hope.  Yesterday I spent the morning visiting the students and staff at both Lakeview and Belaire Campuses to share Brianne's story and to explain why supporting both the Alberta Children's Hospital and The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada is so important. Amazing group and I look forward to seeing you all soon!

Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation Cheque Presentation

John Doerksen (Teamsters Union 362), Patti Zabot and Lance Wallace (Teamsters Union 362), March 13, 2012 at Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation. ($22,000.00 of which was directed from the $34,000.00 raised at the 5th Annual Teamsters Charity Golf Tournament in August, 2011.)

The 6th Annual Teamster's Charity Golf Tournament is scheduled and will be taking place May 31st, 2012 at D'Arcy Ranch in Okotoks.

Children's Wish Foundation of Canada Cheque Presentation

November 24th (yesterday) I met with Jason Evanson (AB and NWT Chapter Director of Children's Wish Foundation of Canada) to present $14,000.00 on behalf of Brianne's LEAP of Hope as a result of our 2011 Fundraising Season.

Thanks to the Calgary Girls School and the Annual Teamsters Charity Golf Tournament; this is the 4th year we have been fortunate enough to be able to contribute between $12,000.00-$14,000.00 to provide funds for a full wish. I believe the average Wish granted is approximately $11,000.00 and unfortunately they have had an incredible increase in the number of requests for Wishes this year. I am so glad to play a small role to help these kids and their families....:)

ps....be sure to check out the cutest little girl with Mickey Mouse ears in the right corner of the beautiful new poster behind Jason and I! ;)

Children's Walk For Wishes October 16th, 2011

Was pleased to be able to attend the Walk for Wishes to commit to donate $14k for a full Wish for the 4th year on behalf of Brianne's LEAP of Hope!