A Sunshine Dream is an individual experience, dreamed by a Sunshine dreamer and fulfilled by our dedicated Programs team. These experiences are as unique as the kids who dream them and often include family members in the celebration of this once-in-a-lifetime customized dream.
Read life-changing dream stories below:
At the age of ten, Amy was diagnosed with a form of muscular dystrophy that progressively weakens her muscles over time.
Victoria is a twenty-year-old from Saint John, NB who lives with a neurological developmental delay and low muscle development.
Whether you grew up listening to the hits of the Beach Boys, New Kids on the Block, Backstreet Boys or One Direction, swooning over the looks and the lyrics of a boy band is a common part of a teenage girls’ upbringing.
“It was hard for my parents (and siblings) to watch their daughter be in pain and go through things they couldn’t help with,” Tanisha describes.
We can all relate to the feeling of wearing a cool new pair of shoes. The right pair can feel like you’re floating above the ground (perhaps even doing the moonwalk)!
Ten-year-old Lucas is an active boy who loves biking and playing baseball with his friends. He doesn’t miss a single opportunity to try everything: “the faster, bigger or higher it is, the better!” he says.
When she was fourteen years old, Sarah Lashbrook’s life changed in an instant. A Christmas Eve visit to her aunt’s home in Sudbury just an hour’s car ride away turned into a nightmare when her parents’ car was hit head-on.
Just like many kids, Daithi loves to play at the park. He dreamed of spending all day sliding down the slides, soaring high on the swings, and climbing around on the equipment.
Many of the children across Canada who are impacted by Sunshine’s dream programs live with multiple diagnoses, some of which may fall under the umbrella of mental health. Anxiety and depression are common amongst our Sunshine Dreamers.
“Every Mom thinks their kid is talented and amazing. I know that I feel that way about mine.
For 18-year-old Hannah from Penticton, BC, a new bike is more than a dream come true. It’s a means of independence, empowerment, and the ability to pay-it-forward. Hannah lives with spina bifida and is paraplegic from the waist down.
In 2014, Sunshine shared the story of Austin Smeenk, a Sunshine Dreamer whose dream was to have his own customized racing chair.
