Another inspiring patient for VOBOC is Lara. A young teacher, at the beginning of her dream career, was diagnosed with cancer. Admitted to the hospital as a new patient, Lara received her Vo-Pak from her medical team. She was thrilled and went out of her way to let us know by asking VOBOC to visit her. Lara’s active mind was forever thinking of items that could be added to the backpack to make it even better. As weeks past during hospitalization, Lara and her dad would play a special game late at night; they would name more essential items that needed [...]

VOBOC expanded and introduced its two services for the AYA population into yet another McGill oncology centre: the Segal Cancer Centre at the Sir Mortimer B. Davis of the Jewish General Hospital. The medical teams embraced VOBOC as we quickly began delivering Vo-Paks, granting Special Requests and offering free diversions to their young patients.

Louise then introduced VOBOC to the ad agency, Cundari, which helped to create the new mascot, Léon – a lion that symbolizes the courage every cancer patient has within them.

Doreen met Louise after her third bout with breast cancer. She’d heard about the quiet work that VOBOC was doing and wanted to become a volunteer. She had such enthusiasm; you couldn’t resist her energy. She shadowed Doreen at the hospital several times to see how we delivered our services. She was taking notes of everything. “Why are you offering so many services? You can’t do it all!” She’d always say. The two became great friends, Doreen valued her instincts and business acumen. And so, at our five-year review, with Louise’s assistance, the VOBOC board decided to narrow our services and [...]

We introduced our Venturing Out Program, Granting of Special Requests and the AYA Vo-Pak Program to the Lakeshore General Hospital. As this was the hospital who treated Doreen during her diagnosis, this was another empowering way to give back. Just like the MUHC, the Lakeshore oncology team was thrilled to have their patients win weekend getaways and gift certificates.

There were multiple discussions with medical teams about what they thought about VOBOC supplying backpacks to their young patients. They were on board, without a doubt. Together, we brainstormed different elements to put in the backpack. The list grew and grew. This is how the new Vo-Pak (Venturing Out Backpack) Program began. Vo-Paks were, and still are today, comprised of a Medical Education Kit, a Resource and Link Kit, a Hospital Comfort Kit, an Awareness Tool Kit, and a Venturing Out Kit, which has such things as iTunes and restaurant gift cards, as well as vouchers for free diversions to help [...]