Family, friends of 15-year-old Vancouver cancer survivor raise $5 million for BC Children's Hospital
A Vancouver teen who survived an extremely rare cancer diagnosis has left his mark on BC Children's Hospital.
In fact, he's left his name there.
The Team Nicky Hospital Chair in Hematology, Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplant will provide ongoing funding for specialized care and innovative treatments and programs at BC Children's.
The chair is named for Nicholas "Nicky" Cannon, who – at age 12 back in 2021 – was diagnosed with Stage 4 sarcoma, a soft-tissue cancer.
Now 15 and cancer free, Nicky – who also goes by Nick – spent more than 170 days in the hospital, enduring 13 rounds of chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, 19 surgeries, liver ablation therapy, and three weeks of radiation.
"Team Nicky" is the community group that came together to support the boy during his ordeal, and it has transformed into a fundraising machine since his cancer went into remission.
"Team Nicky started before we were raising funds," said Kelly Cannon, Nicky's mother, in an interview with CTV News.
"Team Nicky came together as a community that was helping us bring soup to our door and meals to our place up at the hospital and just cards of cheer."
Kelly said the family set the goal of endowing a chair in Nicky's name and received a $1 million donation from the Beedie Foundation toward that purpose. They've since received dozens more donations, large and small, toward the cause.
"What's unique about this is: Chairs at the hospital need to be a $5-million donation, and typically that's reserved for an incredible organization or company or a family that is able to donate that," Kelly explained.
"We're not in those circumstances, but our community was able to be in those circumstances to raise (the funds) together."
Dr. Caron Strahlendorf, head of the hospital's Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and BMT, has been named the inaugural chair holder.
"The Division of Hematology, Oncology and BMT is united in our focus to provide exceptional care to our patients and their families," said Strahlendorf in a news release announcing the Team Nicky donation.
"Together, with the support of the generous Team Nicky community of donors, we can help create a brighter future for every child diagnosed with cancer or a blood disorder."
Nicky himself told CTV News he's deeply thankful for everyone who donated.
"Seeing a community rally around us and be able to raise $5 million, it's pretty incredible to see," he said. "Even $1,000 is worth everything because it's just getting put into a place where it's getting used to make a child's life better."
Kelly was similarly grateful for the support, and to see her community respond to help other children going through what her son experienced.
"It moves me beyond measure to know that it's not just for Nicky," she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump chooses anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump says he will nominate anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, putting him in charge of a massive agency that oversees everything from drug, vaccine and food safety to medical research and the social safety net programs Medicare and Medicaid.
LIVE UPDATES Toronto's first 'Eras Tour' show kicks off at Rogers Centre
Taylor Swift takes the stage at the Rogers Centre as 'The Eras Tour' has arrived.
Purolator workers won't handle Canada Post packages if strike occurs, union says
Teamsters Canada says if Canada Post workers go on strike or are locked out, its members at Purolator won't handle any packages postmarked or identified as originating from the carrier.
Canada urged to cut government-funded research collaborations with China: report
A newly released report is urging Canada to immediately end all government-funded research collaborations with China in a variety of different areas.
Measles cases in New Brunswick continue to climb
The number of measles cases in New Brunswick continue to climb. Officials with New Brunswick’s Department of Health said as of Thursday, the number of confirmed cases since October has reached 43.
Winnipeg driver rescues passengers from burning van
A Winnipeg driver was in the right place at the right time when a paratransit van caught fire Thursday morning.
B.C.'s chief vet tells clinics to set up bird flu protocols amid human exposure risk
British Columbia's chief veterinarian has told clinics that treat wild birds that they must establish protocols to prevent the spread of avian flu, warning of the risk of human exposure to the illness.
Police release bodycam video of officer-involved incident at Hindu temple protest in Brampton, Ont.
Police say an officer who forcefully removed a 'weapon' from a protester outside of a Hindu temple in Brampton was acting 'within the lawful execution of his duties' after bystander video of the incident circulated widely online.
Here's how a potential Canada Post strike may affect Canadians
A disruption in Canada Post services would hit some Canadians harder than others. As the deadline approaches for a potential strike at midnight Friday, CTVNews.ca asked readers how it would affect them and how they are preparing.