The Government of B.C. has provided $250,000 to the Shriners of British Columbia and Yukon - Shriners Care for Kids to help cover capital expenditures for the improvement of their transportation program.

“The Shriners do amazing work for sick children and their families, and the organization relies entirely on funds collected through their philanthropic efforts and private donations,” said Premier Christy Clark. “For more than 100  years, the Shriners have helped thousands of kids get important treatment, regardless of the family’s ability to pay.”

Finance Minister Michael de Jong announced the funding in Nelson, B.C., today.

“The Shriners work hard to put every dollar they can towards assisting these children,” said de Jong. “This funding will boost their efforts to cover the costs associated with transporting children to and from treatment.”

de Jong also ran in support of the Shriners of B.C. & Yukon - Shriners Care for Kids this weekend by participating in the organization’s 241 kilometre “Ahead of the Curve” relay race. The relay race began in Spokane WA on May 16, and arrived in Nelson B.C. today, May 18. de Jong ran a 10-km section of the race.

“We are grateful for the assistance the Shriners not only provide children requiring specialized medical care, but also their families,” said Health Minister Terry Lake. “Easing some of the burden on parents during these stressful times means they can better focus on what matters most — their child.”

“On behalf of all the Shriners of British Columbia and Yukon, our patients and their families that we care for, we wish to express our deepest gratitude to the Government of British Columbia for this generous contribution and the personal effort of the Honourable Michael de Jong who ran 10 kilometres, towards the support of our good works,” said Dan Mellor, Chairman and CEO, Shriners of BC & Yukon - Shriners Care for Kids.

“We wanted to give something back in appreciation for the care our daughter received and help raise awareness about how the Shriners of B.C. provide transportation for thousands of children every year so they can get the treatment they need,” said Robert Goertz, father of a patient helped by the Shriners of B.C., and organizer of the “Ahead of the Curve” Relay Run.

Since 1903, the Shriners have contributed hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours in British Columbia to raise millions of dollars to provide for the care, needs and transportation of thousands of B.C. children requiring exceptional pediatric treatment for medical concerns such as orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate conditions, regardless of the family’s ability to pay.

Learn More:

For more information about the Shriners of B.C. and Yukon - Shriners Care for Kids program go to: http://www.bcshriners.com

For more information about the Ahead of the Curve Relay Race go to: www.ShrinersRunForKids.com

Media Contacts:

Jamie Edwardson
Ministry of Finance
250 888-0021

Dan Mellor
Chairman and CEO
Shriners of B.C. & Yukon - Shriners Care for Kids
604 603-4760