Cue the waterworks and grab the tissues. You're going to need them.
Ronald McDonald House Charities and WestJet have done it again. They've reduced this writer to a whimpering, sniffling, crybaby. (And you know what, I'm damned proud of it. It's worth every tissue.)
WestJet, through its WestJet Cares for Kids program has once again teamed up with one of their eight partners-Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Canada-to celebrate Father's Day by helping out a 'Coach Dad' and his family.
In a new video called Coach Dad: A Father's day Surprise, WestJet puts the spotlight on Coach Dad Troy Hunt and his family from Clarenville, Newfoundland, Canada.
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Devastating news came last November when Troy's 13-year-old son Darian was diagnosed with leukemia. Troy, his wife, Neda, and Darian made the journey to St. John's nearly 125 miles away so that Darian could get the treatment he needs. Since more than 70 percent of Canadians live outside of a city with a children's hospital, when a child becomes sick, families are often separated for months at a time while the child and some of the family go to where they can get the treatment needed.
In the case of the Hunt family, they had all been able to stay together at Ronald McDonald House Newfoundland & Labrador for 134 days, but in March 2017, Darian was moved to Toronto where he would undergo a stem cell transplant, using those donated by his father Troy.
While Darian and his mom and dad moved into Ronald McDonald House Toronto, their daughter Kaiya remained at home and hadn't seen her family for two months.
In addition to being a father to Darian and Kaiya, Troy also coaches the Clarenville Peewee Minor Hockey team on which Darian plays. The team was missing Darian and Troy as much as Darian and Troy were missing them.
"As fathers, we bond with our kids over the things we are passionate about. For Darian and me, one of those things is hockey," said Troy. "He has been playing since he was in grade one and his best friends also play on the team. Watching Darian go through what he has, we know it's difficult for Darian to be away from home and away from his friends and teammates."
And so for Father's Day, WestJet and Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada surprised Troy and Darian by bringing together some of those who mean the most to them. (You can read more about the special reunion at RMHC Toronto on the WestJet blog.)
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"For the past 10 years, WestJet has been committed to supporting children's health and wellbeing through WestJet Cares for Kids," said Richard Bartrem, WestJet vice-president, marketing and communications.
"We were so inspired by Troy and Darian's story that we went to work with our WestJet Cares for Kids partner Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada, to bring the Hunts and members of their extended hockey family together. Bringing a sense of normalcy and togetherness to the Hunt family, even if just for a moment, is what we aspired to do because WestJet owners care."
"While Ronald McDonald Houses provide families with a caring place to stay while their child receives treatment at a nearby hospital, perhaps the greatest gift Ronald McDonald Houses offer families like the Hunts is the gift of time together. Every moment together is another opportunity for our families to create cherished and treasured memories," said Cathy Loblaw, president and CEO, Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada.
"Together with our incredible partners at WestJet, we are so grateful to have been a part of this beautiful surprise for Troy and Darian and to have supported the Hunt Family on their journey at RMHC Newfoundland & Labrador and RMHC Toronto."
The Hunt family, WestJet and RMHC Canada are sharing this special story to inspire people to support the more than 30,000 families that call Canada's 15 Ronald McDonald Houses and 16 Ronald McDonald Family Rooms, "home" each year.
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