Scott Stanfield
Record staff
Anna Stigter and her family will be spending spring break travelling by RV to the Grand Canyon, compliments of Help Fill a Dream - an Island-based foundation that grants wishes to children with life-threatening conditions.
Eleven-year-old Anna is a Cumberland resident who was diagnosed with brain cancer at age three and kidney cancer a few years later.
But her conditions are in remission and, aside from visits to Children’s Hospital in Vancouver every six months, Anna is able to enjoy her favourite outdoor activities with her parents, Hendrika and Michel, and brothers Rens and Diego.
"She's doing really good at the moment," Hendrika said.
On March 21, the family will fly to Las Vegas to pick up the RV, which will be home for the two-week adventure. The destination is the Grand Canyon, but there will be plenty of time along the way for other distractions, such as horseback riding.
"It's really fantastic," Hendrika said, referring to Help Fill a Dream. "We are overwhelmed that this is happening."
She also thanks You Are Not Alone (YANA) for assisting with travel expenses.
"I think we all have dreamed of taking a road trip at some point," said Craig Smith, executive director at Help Fill A Dream.
"It seems like the ultimate freedom to be able to just go wherever the wind takes you each day. And to be able to see something as majestic as the Grand Canyon is amazing.
"Help Fill A Dream is excited to be able to make Anna’s dream come true. We believe that dreams change lives and that happiness heals."