2022 Holiday Bracelet Fundraiser

If you are capable, please take a few minutes to read this message :

My name is Mara Mckenna and I am a student at McMaster University in Honours Health and Society. However, most people don’t know why I desire to care for the ill seeking healthcare resources. I live with an invisible illness every day; I was born with degenerative heart disease and have been a patient at McMaster Children's Hospital since 4 years old. The ‘plumbing’ in my heart is ineffective and works harder every day to keep me alive, I have had two heart surgeries so far to fix and aid the functioning of my heart. Without McMaster Children's Hospital and the care, love, and support they have and continue to provide, I may not have been able to share my story today. Since 2019, I have raised just under $5,000 to give back to the children’s hospital through Pura Vida bracelet sales and the additional option of a gofundme page. This year, my fundraiser sits close to my heart since my illness became visible to me; I have been going through the process of transferring from pediatric to adult care, and through this process, I was diagnosed last month with a severe chest deformity have never known about. This will affect my condition as I grow, age, and my upcoming surgeries in my future. However, I remain healthy and am able to live my everyday life to the fullest with research and doctors who can treat me for new discoveries in my health this year. I want to help kids like me who walk into the hospital with an unknown but can find a safe place and proper healthcare treatment. The hospital is going through a severe issue of having to transfer children to alternate hospitals like London and this holiday season could be a more stressful time for some families. If you would like to buy a bracelet for $10 you can message me and I would love to get it to you, or you can donate on behalf of yourself, your family, your school, or a person you know is a patient or worker through a gofundme option. The fundraiser will run till New Year’s day, thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope everyone has a safe exam preparation and holiday season <3

More information about Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation: Welcome to Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation. We are focused on raising funds and managing donor gifts that enable the teams at Hamilton Health Sciences to have the essentials to enable excellence in patient care.