Christmas had always been a fun time for Richmondite Ivy Chen and her young daughter, Kelsey.
Even though Kelsey had lost her sight due to a cancerous tumor that pressed on her optic nerve, the little girl could still “feel the Christmas gifts by her heart and then smile,” said her mom.
However, for Chen, that joy was hard to find last year after Kelsey passed at age nine and a half.
But several months after Kelsey died, Chen began using her heartbreak to empower other families whose children are fighting cancer. The result is the Gold Ribbons, a group that provides care, support and resources to families in those situations.
“Kelsey had always been a robust and lovely sweetheart who believed in the power of kindness. When she was healthy, we had been creating simple handmade crafts to fundraise for children in need. Then, when Christmas was approaching, she asked me to share her toys with others to make others feel cherished and blessed.
“My mission is to carry on her wishes and kind spirit, and pass her kindness and love to other families whose beloved children are battling cancer,” said Chen.
Chen founded Gold Ribbons and is now a “mother” of 23 children who are members of her organization.
Gold Ribbons recently launched a program called “be together” in which families are paired with volunteers from the organization to access counselling and help with translation when necessary.
Chen also plans to host a Christmas gift drive to provide gifts for families dealing with cancer over the holiday season.
People interested in donating toys or gifts can email [email protected] for more information.
