91原创

Skip to content

Bring some toys, do some yoga, watch some hockey, help sick kids

Fifth annual 鈥楰indness for Kids鈥 toy drive in 91原创 for Children鈥檚 Hospital
27307409_web1_211124-LAT-DF-yoga-toy-drive-file_1
Kelsey Carignan was surrounded by toys in November of 2019, the year the 鈥楰indness for Kids鈥 toy drive collected $4,000 worth for B.C. Children鈥檚 Hospital. After taking a year off due to COVID, the campaign returned. (file)

On Sunday Dec. 19, at the 91原创 Events Centre, people will bring unwrapped toys and take part in a rinkside yoga event before the Vancouver Giants play the Tri-City Americans.

It is the fifth year of the toy drive that all started with a young boy who wanted to help other kids.

Here鈥檚 how it started.

BC Children鈥檚 Hospital (BCHH) has always had a special place in the Carignan family鈥檚 heart.

At six months old, their son, Noah was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disorder.

After Noah made a full recovery, he wanted to give back.

So when he received a hard-to-find 鈥淗atchimal鈥 for an early Christmas present Noah decided to auction it off to see how many toys he could put together to donate back to BCCH.

He raised more than $500.

That鈥檚 how the 91原创 family鈥檚 annual toy drive began.

READ ALSO: How a big-hearted 91原创 boy got his Christmas wish

READ ALSO: Aubrielle鈥檚 wish: Willoughby girl raises funds to buy Christmas gifts for sick kids

Then, in 2018, mom Kelsey was diagnosed with breast cancer.

She started a virtual campaign called #kindnesscures where people could complete random acts of kindness and tag her in them so that on her really hard days, she could go through all of the good that resulted.

Kelsey and her best friend Samantha Collins, CEO of decided to take that year鈥檚 toy drive to the next level.

The day before going in for her bilateral mastectomy, taught a yoga class at Oxygen Walnut Grove, accepting toys, once again, for BCCH.

Together, Oxygen 91原创 and the Carignan family donated over $2,500 worth of toys.

In 2019, the campaign collected an estimated $4000 worth.

COVID restrictions in 2020 forced a cancellation, but this year, the event is back, with the Vancouver Giants hockey team and Save-On-Foods as partners.

Before the 2 p.m. Dec. 19 game, the day will begin begin with an 11 a.m. rink-side yoga class geared to hockey families taught by Kelsey.

Kids will learn the importance of incorporating yoga and mindfulness into their training.

After the Giants take on the Tri-City Americans there will be an an afternoon skate sponsored by Save-On-Foods.

Tickets are limited and only $18 each.

They can be purchased online at with discount code: KINDNESS .

READ ALSO: 18,000 toys and counting: Keian鈥檚 Wish Toy Drive marks 10th anniversary


Is there more to the story? Email: dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
Like us on and follow us on .


Dan Ferguson

About the Author: Dan Ferguson

Best recognized for my resemblance to St. Nick, I鈥檓 the guy you鈥檒l often see out at community events and happenings around town.
Read more



(or

91原创

) document.head.appendChild(flippScript); window.flippxp = window.flippxp || {run: []}; window.flippxp.run.push(function() { window.flippxp.registerSlot("#flipp-ux-slot-ssdaw212", "Black Press Media Standard", 1281409, [312035]); }); }