Cochrane families are invited to visit Santa Claus a little earlier than usual this holiday season to help raise money for children battling cancer at the second annual Santa Photos for a Cause.
On Nov. 20 and 24, and Dec. 4, 6, and 8, Four Cubs Children’s Boutique will host the event where kids can take a photo with Kriss Kringle by donating to Helping Families Handle Cancer to help families struggling with childhood cancer.
Co-owner of Four Cubs Children’s Boutique, Jocelyn Kimmett, said Four Cubs is popular with kids and parents, and felt it would serve as a good space for the event.
“Kids love to come to our store to play, so we felt that it would be nice to have Santa there,” Kimmett said. “It’s not a boring place where you have to stand in line for two hours and it’s a stress-free environment for parents as well.”
The event raised $1,700 in 2021 and Kimmett anticipates a higher turnout from the community this year.
She praised the generosity from Cochrane locals in making last year’s event a success.
“It was unbelievable how generous people were,” Kimmett said. “Everyone wanted to donate last year … anything to ensure they were helping the cause and not just there for the free photo.”
As a mother and local business owner, Kimmett said this is a fun way to give back to the Cochrane community and serves as a win-win for her business and a way to support a local charity.
Cochranite and executive director of Helping Families Handle Cancer Carie Stock is also excited about the event, and is happy to have partnered with Four Cubs.
“Because they are a children’s boutique, we really love that they chose to partner up again with us this year to support children,” Stock said.
The not-for profit charity exclusively helps families with children who have cancer in Cochrane and Alberta.
As a childhood cancer survivor, Stock said she understands firsthand the challenges that families who are battling such diagnoses face.
“It really affects families financially,” Stock said. “They have great care with doctors and things like that at the hospital but what we found, in my case and is relevant today, is that families struggle with the financial burden that comes with a child that has cancer.”
Stock said in many cases when a child is diagnosed with cancer, one parent needs to quit their job in order to be able to shuttle their kid to and from hospital appointments.
On top of that responsibility, several new expenses are also introduced that add more to the financial burden of parents.
“We’re here to support that part of the journey,” Stock said.
Stock said she is pleased with the support Helping Families Handle Cancer has received and is grateful to work alongside Kimmett to for this event.
“When you think about it, there’s a lot of bigger charities out there and we’re small, grassroots,” Stock said. “And so, $1,700 means the world to us. That means [it] could buy 24 monthly parking passes for families at the hospital.”
Both Kimmett and Stock invite anyone interested to book a time for a photo.
“I hope we beat last year’s number,” Stock said.
To book a photo, please contact [email protected] or contact @fourcubscochrane on Instagram.
