As Jason Bunville explains that BC Children’s Hospital mascot “Sunny Bear” will be attending a fundraiser for the hospital, his youngest daughter Kasey starts yelling with delight.
Rather than talk over her, Bunville moves to a different room.
The fact that Kasey is an energetic, occasionally loud, nine-year-old is a victory for her and her family.
After Kasey was diagnosed with leukemia in May of 2010, monthly treatments of chemo at Children’s Hospital and Surrey Memorial Hospital’s cancer unit put her cancer in remission.
“She’s had chemotherapy, radiation, blood transfusions, the whole nine yards,” Bunville says.
“It’s been stressful.”
Now, she’s cancer-free, he says.
The family is determined to give back by raising money for Children’s.
They’ve already held several fundraising events, and the latest will be on August 12 at the Save-On-Food in Aldergrove at Fraser Highway and 264 street from 12 p.m to 6 p.m.
Kasey and her older sister Kalyn, 11, will be there to help collect donations.
And so will the bear.