From all of us at Chai Lifeline we'd like to Thank You for your continued patronage and wish you and your family a very happy and healthy Passover Holiday.
 
Meet Chai Warrior - Mya

Mya was diagnosed with leukemia on her 5th birthday.

Chai Lifeline Canada stepped in and made the unmanageable manageable. From setting Mya up with a "Big Sister" who visited her at home and in hospital; to sending hot, homemade meals to her family's doorstep; to giving her an iPad to distract her from the poking and prodding, the needles and chemo. 

Perhaps the greatest gift of all was Camp Si mcha. "I must admit," her mother said, "I was a bit nervous sending Mya to sleep away camp in New York. But it was an incredible experience for her. For the first time since she was sick, Mya experienced the levity of life as a healthy child -- zip lining, playing and swimming. The camp is staffed with doctors and nurses who provide all the medical support the children need. One of my earliest concerns when Mya was diagnosed was that cancer was going to steal her childhood". 

Chai Lifeline Canada and Camp Simcha have done the impossible: they've reminded Mya that, despite her illness, she is still a little girl.

Help spread the love to families struggling to cope with terminal illness and join Chai Lifeline Canada in its ongoing mission to help Fight Illness with Love.  

Credit to the Empathy Effect who featured this post via Facebook. 
Rabbi Morderchai Rothman presenting Mayor John Tory with a special heart created by Jewelry Designer Rebekah Price.
10th Annual Sing for The Children, honours Toronto Mayor John Tory

Our 10th annual Sing for The Children Concert was a smashing success. Spearheaded by the brilliantly talented Aliza Spiro, Brittish, Yiddish & Kiddush Part II was unlike any other event. MC Tom Allison ensured laughter and song was enjoyed by all.  

This year's concert had some special touches including:  the debut of our Chai Lifeline Passover Haggadah and the presentation of The Heart Project. One of a kind hearts designed by our Chai Warriors, Families and those touched by Chai Lifeline were up for auction. The audience was moved by the premiere performance of Sing a Song of Life , a special song written and composed by Aliza Spiro in honour of our 10 Year Anniversary. Check out the video and beautiful lyrics here. 

The true test of a person's character is how they treat their most vulnerable, and we believe that there is no better confirmation of this than the Toronto community. Thank you to each and every one of you who came to support Chai Lifeline Canada as a beacon of light and hope in the darkness; we will only continue to grow brighter with your support. 
Montreal Chai Lights

With Passover just around the corner, it seems just as yesterday we were celebrating good times and fun during out Purim festivities. Our Montreal Chai family has grown to over 300 people who attended our Annual Purim Party. We had inflatable games, a magician, hammantashen making and a costume-themed red carpet walk-off, where each of our Chai Warriors got to strut their stuff and left with a trophy.
 
What stands out the most in the past few months is our Boys Shabbaton. This February, the Montreal branch hosted our first ever Boys Shabbatton in the beautiful Laurentian Mountains. 12 Boys from Toronto joined along with 10 Boys from Montreal plus one boy from New York for an incredible weekend. It was a weekend not to forget! We had Shabbat dinner, indoor swimming, roasted marshmallows and of course we watched the Habs vs. the Leafs game. What is most memorable is the impact and memories we made bringing our 2 branches together, creating new friendships with Chai Warriors from across Canada.


The PHH Bowling Team Picture taken at Playtime Bowl
Penina's Helping Hand holds Bowlathon in support of kids affected by an ill parent

We had 100 adult and teen bowlers come out for an evening of fun, prizes and to see who would score the most points all in support of Penina's Helping Hand [PHH].

Penina's Helping Hand is  a fitting tribute to Penina Rubinoff, an extraordinary woman who will always be remembered for her love, compassion, and charity work. 

PHH offers year-round programs, services, and social support to over 250 children dealing with the loss of a parent or a severely ill parent. The Annual Disney Trip, case management, counselling, holiday gifts, tutoring, gala holiday parties, family retreats, and crisis intervention services bring help and hope to these children, and their families. All services from PHH are provided completely free of charge.

Special thanks to: Yehuda Berman, Aaron Ekstein, Yoad Elmaleh, and Moshe Zieleniec.
Jonah volunteering at our SickKids Event (2013)
Why I volunteer for Chai Lifeline

The world can seem so dark at times, with so much pain, suffering and illness.  But our task is to reveal the light hidden within that darkness.  At Chai, there is no prediction as to what darkness I may encounter within the hospitals I visit, the families and children with whom I am involved, the holiday parties or meal deliveries, or even the after-school programs.  But darkness isn't our focus; here we focus on revealing the light.  Through my involvement over the years, I have had the privilege of transforming very real and tangible darkness into light (even if but a few glimmers).  Chai provides a sense of purpose, a feeling of family, and a guiding philosophy o f always being there for others despite the traumas or difficulties they may face.  It is a tremendous honour to be a part of such a dedicated team and organization.

Written by:  Jonah S.C. Muskat-Brown MSW
Register for the Sporting Life 10K Today!   
 
Spring is in the air, so get moving and walking/running! Come out and join our "EH Team" as we support Camp Ooch, an overnight camp for Kids with Cancer here in Ontario. Register today by clicking here and using password "cll@toronto".

Our Haggadahs are here! 
Exclusively available at Miriam's Judaica, Israel's Judaica (Sobey's Plaza) & The Israeli Source 

Team Lifeline Canada 2017_ Miami Starting Line
Team Lifeline 2017/2018 Registration is here!

We are pleased to announce the 2017/2018 Team Lifeline Canada EARLY registration form which is now online and open. This exclusive invite is for new and previous runners who are committing to raise a minimum of $5,000. Check out all the fabulous perks and prizes to be had when you join the Team of a Lifetime! Valid until May 31, 2017. Clickhere register or email [email protected] 
 
Finally read Team Lifeline Canada's Program Manager, Miriam Leibowitz's article "How to stay healthy and save money on Passover" in the COR Passover Guide. Click  here  to read. 
Donate Today! 

Thank you for helping us make Chai Lifeline Canada a critical resource for children and families affected by pediatric illness. 

Your donation enables us to provide comprehensive care and support services that assist each member of the family. All services Chai Lifeline provides are completely free of charge.
Chai Lifeline Canada | 647-430-5933 | chailifeilnecanada.org
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