Heidi VanLith
Special to The Chief
Say aaah.
Those two words are most commonly uttered by your doctor, but this week you'll be hearing it from tiny toddlers.
Rise & Play Preschool children, dressed in homemade hospital scrubs, will give "Wee Care Kids' Clinic" health check-ups to people, teddies, and dollies in Save-On-Foods' parking lot March 7 and 9 in an effort to raise funds for the BC Children's Hospital.
The five-year dream of supporting the Children's Hospital became a realization for Rise & Play owner and operator Pamela Potts as the plan to play doctor for donations was gratefully embraced by both the hospital and supporter Save on Foods.
"I've always had this dream of helping the BC Children's hospital and thought that I could involve the preschoolers to let the children experience helping other children less fortunate then them," said Potts.
Instructors Val Valleau and Chelsey Potts have been training preschoolers for their mini-medical debut through in-class lessons, take-home exercises, and even a field trip to the Squamish General Hospital earlier this week.
"They're learning some of the terminology and have been coming home with pictures of a doctor's bag filled with tools that they paste on," said Lisa Hunter, parent of a four-year old in Pre-Kindergarten at Rise & Play. "They're also learning that it's not scary to go see a doctor and that sometimes children do get sick and it's not their fault."
Hunter said the fundraiser has presented an opportunity for parents to promote healthy lifestyles to their children at home.For the past month, parents and Potts have been cutting and sewing tiny doctor's outfits; gathering band-aids, stethoscopes, and tongue-depressors; and preparing for their two days of fundraising and clinical practice. Potts Design donated a tent to house the clinic.
"We love children and they need a little extra because a lot of the equipment at the hospitals is for adults," said Potts, adding that the Wee Care fundraiser is aimed to be an educational event first and foremost this year.
Save-On-Foods proudly supports the event and has been a corporate sponsor of the BC Children's Hospital for many years."Save-On-Foods donated just about $1 million to the hospital last year," said manager Randall Bamford, adding that BC Children's Hospital lottery tickets will also be available for purchase inside the store. "The fundraiser sounds like it will make for a fun day."
With no exact goal in mind, Potts and the preschoolers aim to raise as much money and knowledge as possible. The Wee Care Kids' Clinic will be open and accepting donations from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both March 7 and 9.
