Sadownik Miles for Smiles donates $800 to Chemotherapy Unit

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – The Chemotherapy Unit at the Fort St John Hospital received a donation of eight $100 gift cards through the Sadownik Miles for Smiles campaign on Tuesday.

This year, COVID-19 restrictions forced the Vertical Slam and the Sadownik Memorial Run to be virtual events where participants logged their distances separately.

Event organizer Laurie Cardinal says she knows first-hand how difficult life can be when someone is going through Chemotherapy treatment.

“We just thought, if we can give someone a $100 gift card, they can use it for groceries. Maybe that frees up $100 for something else,” said Cardinal.

“I know they’ll make it into some good hands, and we also attach a nice little written letter inside, just to let them know that we care, and to keep fighting.”

According to Cardinal, the Vertical Slam Society typically hosts three events.

“The Vertical Slam Beatton River Valley is going to be a live event on September 11th. Funds raised from that event go to the school meals program. Usually, the following weekend we do multiple loops of Fish Creek [Community Forest] for Sadownik Miles for Smiles.”

Cardinal says there’s an interesting story on why Sadownik Miles for Smiles goes in Fish Creek Community Forest.

“Steve and Nicole Sadownik were pillars of the community, and he had made the comment that the worst thing possible would be to do multiple loops of Fish Creek. That’s where we came up with the idea for a fundraiser for the Chemo Unit, because they’re going through a lot.”

On October 30th, the second edition of the Halloween run will donate to both causes, says Cardinal.

Despite the good feedback received with the virtual events, Cardinal hopes everything from here on is a live event.

“All the Vertical Slam directors are volunteers. We do this on our own time, so it can be a lot. So, hopefully, next year we’ll be able to do the Sadownik Miles for Smiles in Fish Creek like it was originally meant.”

Visit the Vertical Slam Ultimate Challenge Facebook page for more information.