Cochrane's newest children's boutique raised $1,700 for children with cancer this holiday season.
Four Cubs hosted weekend photo sessions with Santa for local families in November and December and donated all the proceeds to Helping Families Handle Cancer.
"We were blown away by the generosity of the families in this town," said Four Cubs' co-owner Jocelyn Kimmett. "To raise $1,700 for this incredible charity just by having Santa in our store for a few days was remarkable."
The non-profit is a grassroots charity founded by Carie Stock in 2008.
The funds raised, Stock said, go toward supporting families in Alberta struggling to make ends meet while their children undergo cancer treatments.
"Requests can range from rent, gas, groceries, a parking pass, medications, medical supplies and things that aren't covered in health-care plans," Stock said.
Parking passes for hospitals, she said, are among the most requested items families need help with.
Stock, who is a childhood cancer survivor herself, said she understands the unexpected costs associated with a cancer diagnosis.
The holiday season can be especially hard for families, Stock said, because on top of all the new medical costs, there's also the desire to ensure children have a merry Christmas.
"People are already having a hard time meeting ends meet; expenses go up and income goes down," she said, noting due to time in hospital or medical appointments, many two-income households drop to one as a parent is likely forced to put their employment on hold.
The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated health restrictions and lockdowns have made fundraising difficult, Stock said.
With a $100,000 fundraising goal, she said it's community partnerships with businesses and community events, like this, that help the non-profit get there.
