Winter camping for a cause
Peter Burgess might be the lone Edmontonian wishing for -40 C weather this week.
A deep chill, he hopes, means more donations for his Freezing Father fundraiser — a weeklong commitment to winter camp in Rainbow Valley and raise money for the Stollery Children’s Hospital.
A decade after Burgess’ threeyear-old daughter died from a mysterious cause at the Stollery, the chilly new ritual is a way to express gratitude to the hospital staff and raise money for pricey pediatric medical equipment, he said Friday.
“It’s not your plan, when you have kids. You don’t wake up one morning and expect your kid to be dead at the end of the day. It’s not the way things are supposed to work,” Burgess said.
It was July 25, 2007, when Burgess’ wife, Candace Toews, received a call from a caregiver at daughter Elan’s daycare. She said the tot was having trouble waking up from her nap. By the time Toews arrived, Elan was having seizures, and Toews called 911.
A couple of hours later, Elan had a heart attack while lying in her father’s arms. Before midnight, a distraught pediatric heart specialist was telling the family no blood was reaching the child’s brain, and there was nothing he could do to help her.
Two days later, they removed her from life support.
Although the medical care was top-notch, the social workers, psychologists, and counsellors who worked with the family to help explain the situation to Elan’s then seven-year-old brother, Ben, were instrumental, Burgess said.
“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done is say his sister wasn’t coming home.”
Burgess wanted to try a unique fundraising feat to give back to the Stollery. His first winter camp-out last year raised $28,000 for neonatal warming beds and other equipment.
This year’s goal is $15,000, to buy a portable pediatric nasal cannula, which can help children who are struggling to breathe.
“You’re never going to make it right. But the chance to help out a kid — you don’t get many chances in life to do that. Both Candace and I really latched onto it,” Burgess said of their fundraiser.
Despite the mercury dropping as low as -32 C last year, Burgess had a parade of visitors, including strangers who shared stories — joyful and tragic — of their experiences at the Stollery.
One couple climbed out of an SUV and explained how their triplets weighed little more than a bunch of bananas each when they were born. Bracing himself for a heartbreaking ending, Burgess was delighted when the parents asked, “Would you like to meet them?” and showed him three car seats tucked into the SUV’s rear.
Burgess will have company in the tent this year when five emergency responders join him for one night each. An emergency medical technician, a firefighter, police officers and a Canadian Forces member who have personal connections with the hospital will take turns spending a frigid night camping.
Burgess and his guest will also dine in style because several Edmonton chefs and restaurant owners have volunteered to cook breakfasts and dinners outdoors with his camping pots and propane stove.
Organized by Mary Bailey, who runs The Tomato Food & Drink culinary magazine, the volunteers include chef Shane Chartrand from Sage restaurant at the River Cree, and chef Lindsay Porter from London Local.
Burgess’ campout began Friday at 6 p.m. at Rainbow Valley campground on Whitemud Drive, and will last until next Friday.