Reader’s Digest Canada launches annual award to celebrate
extraordinary service to others

Montreal, June 24, 2003 — Reader’s Digest Canada today announced that its Canadian Hero of the Year for 2003 is Christine Wandzura of Calgary, founder of the Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta (KCCFA). An article in the July 2003 issue of Reader’s Digest profiles the magazine’s first Hero of the Year, outlining the story of her work on behalf of children living with cancer. The magazine inaugurated the annual award to celebrate the many Canadians whose heroic efforts make a real difference in their community and in the lives of others.

“I was absolutely shocked when I was told that I would be the first Reader’s Digest Canadian Hero of the Year,” said Christine. “I am truly honoured by this wonderful tribute and I would like to thank those at Reader’s Digest Canada who felt that my efforts are worthy of hero-status. I hope that I can inspire others to dedicate themselves to a cause or effort and make a difference in their communities.”

Prior to starting the KCCFA, Christine struggled to deal with the loss of her son Derek, who was diagnosed with brain cancer at age five and died four-and-a-half-years later. The summer before losing Derek, Christine had taken her son to a camp in British Columbia for children with cancer and was inspired by her son and the campers who relished every opportunity to play like other kids. Christine felt very strongly that a similar camp should be created in Alberta. After Derek died, she helped the Canadian Cancer Society organize sending 43 kids to a camp in Kananaskis, just west of Calgary. While this was a major step in the right direction, Christine felt that much more could and should be done to help kids in need. With this determination, Christine quit her full-time job to dedicate herself to raising funds for a series of camps for children with cancer throughout Alberta. Christine’s Kids Cancer Camps of Alberta was launched in the summer of 1995 and in 1997 summer day camps in Calgary and Edmonton were established. In 1999, Christine expanded the organization’s mandate to include fundraising for pediatric oncology research and clinical support.

“Christine’s determination to make a difference, her energy and her drive, and the results she achieved are truly inspirational,” said Murray Lewis, editor-in-chief of Reader’s Digest Canada. “She’s an extraordinary person and an example for others. Celebrating and sharing stories like hers is part of what we do at Reader’s Digest and it’s exciting to be able to recognize the heroism that Christine embodies.”

For more information on the Reader’s Digest Canadian Hero of the Year Award 2003 and the feature story on Christine Wandzura, click here.

On June 24th, Christine was honoured at an official ceremony in Calgary, Alberta where she has been given a special award.