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Community steps up for Cayla

Langley girl's coin drive for B.C.'s Children's Hospital raises more than $2,500
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Helped out by her mom, Joanne, Cayla Morris, right, held a coin drive throughout the month of April to raise money for B.C.’s Children’s Hospital. Coins for Cayla, raised more than $2,500 for the cause.

A 12-year-old Langley girl is thanking the community for making her birthday wish to help children and babies around this province come true.

Cayla Morris, through her Coins for Cayla drive, raised $2,532.85 for B.C.’s Children’s Hospital — a place that is very near and dear to the Morris family.

“This is very exciting for her first coin drive. This will be a yearly event now,” said her proud mom Joanne. The goal was to raise money for B.C. Children’s during the month of April, which is Cayla’s birthday month.

Coin boxes were placed at Fox and Fiddle, Choo Choos, IGA in Walnut Grove, Langley Works Yard and Original Joe’s Cloverdale location. Langley residents dug into their pockets and gave a little. She topped the month off with a fundraising birthday party at Alder Alley Bowling which donated lanes.

Doctors at Children’s Hospital spent years trying to find a diagnosis for Cayla.

Finally, last year her family learned that she is one of only two people in the world known to have a specific chromosomal disorder — chromosome 17P 13.1 microduplication.

For Cayla to continue her life, she has to take growth hormone shots every day. She is intellectually disabled but has made leaps and bounds in her speech because of the hospital’s speech therapy.

Now Cayla will be featured on Global BC Miracle Weekend Telethon, and she was also featured in a BCIT news feature and the Costco newsletter to members. Her school has also been supportive. Cayla went from being bullied to finding friends through students’ new awareness.

For Joanne, the effort doesn’t stop here.

“I am answering the phones at the Children’s Miracle Network telethon on Saturday, June 1, between 5 and 7 p.m.,” said Morris.

To call her line directly, call 604-333-5442.

Joanne is eternally grateful to Children’s for not giving up and for providing such good care for Cayla.

Fundraising for the hospital will always be part of their lives, she said. She also has her own webpage to raise funds for Children’s Hospital at  http://www.miraclemaker.ca/joannemorris.



Monique Tamminga

About the Author: Monique Tamminga

Monique brings 20 years of award-winning journalism experience to the role of editor at the Penticton Western News. Of those years, 17 were spent working as a senior reporter and acting editor with the Langley Advance Times.
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