CORNWALL, Ontario – Rachel’s Kids 14th annual Garden Party and Charity Auction drew the largest crowd that Dr.Rachel Navaneelan has seen to date. The event was held at the Cornwall Golf and Country Club on Saturday, May 22 from 12 to 5 p.m.
“This is the largest turnout we’ve ever had,” said Navaneelan. “People have been really amazing. The weather cleared up but they came out in spite of the fact that it was raining at 12 o’clock. So that’s wonderful.”
This year’s fundraiser for Rachel’s Kids House of Hope featured a live auction, silent auction and a surprise gift box draw. It was also announced that Rachel’s Kids have selected four local children who will be flown to Disneyland for a day. The names of the lucky recipients have yet to be revealed.
Navaneelan didn’t have a specific fundraising goal in mind this year, but hoped that the community would show as much support as possible. Last year’s Garden Party raised $161,000.
Sean Cowan, 15, this year’s co-Chair for the Garden Party, survived High Risk ALL B Cell Leukemia. He was diagnosed in 2015 and had 1033 treatments of Chemotherapy. Cowan spent almost 100 days in the hospital, about 40 weeks at Ronald McDonald House and missed one and a half years of school. Rachel’s Kids gave Cowan a Playstation4, TV and a nice setup in his room that enabled him to play online with friends while he was required to be in isolation.
“They made me feel good and happy,” said Cowan. “It really helped me through it. Knowing they’re going to be doing the same thing for other kids, it feels really good.”
“We have been doing this since 2005 and I just can not believe how much time has passed,” said Navaneelan. “I’ve definitely been having a good time raising money for children. So I don’t feel the time pass by.”
