Helping a child live their camping dream
An ongoing partnership between ArrKann Trailer and RV Centre in Edmonton and Make a Wish Northern Alberta has resulted in an exciting summer ahead for a three-year-old girl. Aiva, who was diagnosed in May 2013 at the age of two with leukemia, is an avid camper. But last year, her condition didn’t allow her to do the usual tent camping with her family.
“‘I like to be free in the great outdoors,’ is what Aiva said. She told us if she could, she would go camping every single day,” said Katie Willis, communications co-ordinator with Make a Wish, which is a non-pro t organization. Having partnered with ArrKann Trailer in the past, Aiva’s Make a Wish volunteer team approached the RV dealership again. It was a perfect match, says Dave Hill, ArrKann’s general sales manager. “Most of what we do is for children and families, keeping people camping and having that sense of togetherness,” he said. Aiva was presented with her gi on June 12 in a special way. e Make a Wish volunteer team, working with both ArrKann and the Rainbow Valley Campground operators, planned a scavenger hunt for the little girl from her home to the site of the new tent trailer. As a very special treat, the tent trailer was set up and waiting for her, complete with a camp re and s’mores, and, best of all, her extended family, which included both sets of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Aiva and her family spent the night there.
“It took a little while for it to sink in that it was really hers,” said Willis.
“It’s wonderful to support the community like that,” said Hill. Make a Wish works with children from ages three to 17, who have a life-threatening medical condition at the time of referral. Children are asked if they could go anywhere, if they could be anyone, if they could have anything, or if they can meet anyone, what would they choose.
For Aiva, it was the wish to have a trailer so she could still go camping with her family. And now thanks to ArrKana Trailer, who made the in-kind donation, Aiva and her family can go camping in style. Aiva is doing well, having just nished her maintenance cycle of treatment for leukemia, says Willis.