One thousand women, a million possibilities

Samira, an immigrant from Somalia, attended a mentorship meeting at Norquest College one Monday and revealed she hadn't eaten since Friday. "What was more astonishing," says Wendy Kinsella, who is stepping down as the chair of the college's board of governors, "is that she wasn't expecting any money until the following Friday and really thought she could make it without food until then."

The volunteers at the meeting took a quick collection. But to get the woman to take the money, they had to tell her it came from a college program.

In future, it will.

Karen Faulkner, NorQuest foundation executive-director, hit on the idea of launching an emergency fund that would involve 1,000 women donating $1,000 each.

The fund is called One Thousand Women: A Million Possibilities. The idea is to raise $1 million in three years to create an endowment that will help in emergencies.

"Most of our 10,000 full-and part-time students are totally dedicated to getting on in life and come to school no matter what," says Kinsella, the fund's chairwoman.

"While the fund helps both male and female students, the majority -- some 71 per cent -- are female. Our students represent 125 countries and 60 per cent were born outside Canada. Another 21 per cent are of Aboriginal ancestry."

Quitting not best option

Many have dependents and sometimes, in a dental or medical emergency, are not covered through their current funding source.

"Others at times are desperately in need of groceries because of unforeseen hardships," says Kinsella. "Some walk miles to attend classes and might need help to get a bus pass when the weather is particularly nasty."

Says Faulkner: "Faced with unexpected expenses can throw students off course and sometimes force them to abandon school to manage the situation."

Help from all walks of life

The fund was launched in April and to date more than $240,000 has been raised. Lots of women have stepped forward to work on the advisory committee, including college president Jodi Abbott, Jan Folk, Barbara Poole, Arti Koshal, Salma Lakhani, Sheila Weatherill and Judy Cosco.

Artist Irene Klaar has donated an iconic image for the campaign. Isabel Bernete of enPrivado shoes and Marianne Brown, of The Butler Did It, have thrown very successful fundraisers.

"More than 110 donors from all walks of life have so far contributed," says Kinsella. "The campaign really speaks to Edmonton's kind of philanthropy. And we of course don't mind men and companies donating. Some have already helped generously."

A donor wall will be unveiled at the completion of the initiative in 2013.

Chartered her own course

Seven-year-old Meaghan Modin's departure reminded me to give all those around me an extra big hug during the festive season.

Meaghan was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in 2005 and has earned her butterfly wings to become an angel with her grandma and grandpa in time for Christmas.

The youngster was hospitalized in August and did not leave the Stollery Children's Hospital again.

She was not feeling well in September when the playroom in the oncology unit was named for me, thanks to the efforts of my cycling friends.

But Meaghan was always a fighter with an amazing spirit and told her mum she wanted to be part of the Nick's Place celebration.

"She had an awe-inspiring will to live," says Val Figliuzzi, the Kids with Cancer Society's executive director. "Whenever we thought she was at the end of her journey, she seemed to bounce back."

Says Meaghan's mum Sheryl: "She helped a lot of people along the way, giving others encouragement by being herself. The most important thing was that she had cancer, but the cancer did not have her."

My friend Othelia Jenkins, who rode in our Le Tour of Hope fundraiser in June with a photo of Meaghan, befriended her at the playroom naming ceremony and went on to visit her regularly.

"She was a sweet, sensitive girl and had a magical way of drawing people in and stealing their hearts," said Jenkins.

Resolve to cycle in June

Plans for this year's ride, a 1,000-plus kilometre pedal back from Penticton, B.C., are well advanced and some 30 cyclists have already committed. We have decided to cap our group seeking to raise $250,000 at 40 riders.

It's "first come" for the remaining spots on our eight-day ride, June 18-26.

If you are planning on getting fit for any reason in the New Year and would like to support the Kids with Cancer Society's 38 programs, please consider riding with us. "Five years ago, we had no bereavement program in place to help families such as Meaghan's," says Figliuzzi.

"Thanks to Le Tour of Hope, we have now. Sadly, about 30 per cent of the children cyclists have ridden for are no longer with us."

Source: Edmonton Journal