February 24, 2014 - 11:33 AM
KELOWNA – Inspired by the care Kylee, now 10, received during her emergency open heart surgery as a newborn, the duo set up shop in the lobby of KGH and sold their hand-painted rocks on Valentine’s Day.
Readers were so touched by the sisters’ story in the newspaper on February 9th, they were dropping by the hospital just to buy one of these inspirational rocks.
“We even had one man call in and donate over the phone because he couldn’t make it in that day”, explains Kayla, 13.
Kylee and Kayla have supported a variety of worthwhile causes over the 3 years they’ve been selling the rocks. On Valentine’s Day the funds raised were donated toward the KGH Foundation’s Be a Lifesaver campaign in support of the new Interior Heart & Surgical Centre (IHSC).
Be a Lifesaver’s mission is to ensure the IHSC opens fully outfitted with the critical state-of-the-art equipment and support it needs to improve and save lives.
The Kallen family knows the importance of great health care as Kylee was born with transposition of the great arteries – a life threatening condition – and underwent open heart surgery at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver just days after she was born.
Although it may have started as an art project while camping, the two sisters have now sold over a thousand of their creations raising over $4,000 for charity.
They also donated the remaining rocks from Valentine’s Day to the Children’s ward at KGH in hopes of brightening the day of young patients at KGH.
Keep an eye out for “Charity Rocks” and your opportunity to pick up some inspiration of your own – either from one of their stylish rocks or from the enthusiasm of these two philanthropic entrepreneurs.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014