Making the Holidays Brighter for Kids in Ontario Hospitals

Jan 07, 2025

For families navigating childhood cancer or serious illness, the holidays can be an especially lonely time. But this past season, Campfire Circle turned hospital rooms into spaces of joy, delivering crafts, games, and music that bring laughter and connection to kids right at their bedsides.

Sadie is a brave nine-year-old who has spent much of her childhood in treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Diagnosed on Christmas Eve in 2019, Sadie endured over 800 days of treatment before a relapse in 2023. Since then, she has faced an unrelenting cycle of hospital stays, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. (Last year alone, she spent 55 days in SickKids and endured nine lumbar punctures, 47 doses of IV chemotherapy, three cycles of immunotherapy, and 84 days on an IV.) Despite her health challenges, Campfire Circle has been a source of joy during her family’s toughest days.

“Campfire Circle makes such a big difference in our lives,” says Sadie’s mom, Julie. “They give her a chance to just be a kid again, even in the hospital. Those moments of fun and joy have meant everything to us.”

Campfire Circle’s in-hospital programming is designed to provide more than just fun. These activities help kids build resilience, foster self-confidence, and improve overall well-being. Each craft, song, or game is thoughtfully planned to meet kids where they are, bringing them comfort and connection when they need it most.

As the play partner for Ontario’s paediatric hospitals, Campfire Circle provides programs at SickKids, McMaster Children’s Hospital, the Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre, and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) in Ottawa. Campfire Circle also provides programs in local communities across the province, and at two medically supported overnight camps in Muskoka and Waterford—all at no cost to families.

“Donor support is what makes these transformative experiences possible,” said Alex Robertson, CEO of Campfire Circle. “This holiday season, thanks to the generosity of our community, we brought joy to more kids like Sadie and help give them back their childhoods.”