It’s time for your feel-good story of the day! One teenager’s commitment to making a difference in the lives of kids like him is sure to put a smile on your face.
18-year-old Jérémy lives with severe, chronic immune deficiencies. As a Starlight child and teen for nearly a decade, he has experienced countless events with us. From Camp Massawippi to our newest COVID-19 response program, Play From Home, his childhood and teenage years have been filled with the magic of Starlight Canada to help him cope with the realities of living with an illness.
Jérémy playing live virtual bingo with Starlight families across Canada while confined to home, with our Play From Home Program!
“Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada allows me to be, above all, a child. Activities, Day Brighteners, Wishes, Hospital Parties are the little things that made it easier growing up with the disease. I know life is good,” Jérémy shared.
Over these 10 years, Jérémy has been a huge advocate, friend, and inspiration among those at Starlight Canada, but also his entire community at large. He has put in countless hours of volunteer work and fundraising efforts in support of sick children across different organizations, knowing first-hand the importance of the cause and the impact he can make in a child’s life. To date through the years, Jérémy has raised over $400,000 total in benefit of his community and kids and teens just like him!
To recognize remarkable community involvement in the Quebec community, the GDG Foundation launched the Gilles-Kègle Scholarship. Each year, the foundation selects two youth volunteers who have made an extraordinary impact on their community as recipients of a $5,000 grant.
With no surprise to Starlight Canada, Jérémy was among the two selected in 2020! Jérémy generously donated his $5,000 bursary awarded by the GDG Foundation in equal parts to Opération Enfant Soleil and Starlight Canada!
“Giving of my time to help is my way of giving back. I want to make a difference one step at a time,” Jérémy shared with GDG Foundation.
This isn’t Jérémy’s first time giving back to Starlight Canada! Just this summer, Jérémy embarked on our first-ever Steps For Starlight Initiative — a month-long challenge of stepping and fundraising in support of seriously ill children and their families. “One step at a time,” was Jérémy’s motto. It certainly worked, as Jérémy finished as our top stepper with a total of 768,027 steps!
For the 2019-2020 year, Jérémy is also helping raise money for Starlight Canada with our Families for Families initiative. This unique fundraising campaign helps families give back to others, just like them! So far, Jérémy has raised nearly $4,500 this year! You can help him reach his personal goal of $5,000 by donating today here!
Congratulations Jérémy for all your extraordinary accomplishments in your community, and thank you for making an impact in the lives of seriously ill children!