http://www.celebsforkids.ca/walk2009.html
When Karim Chandani first found out that his eight-year-old daughter has lupus, he cried.
Then he took action.
Since Chandani’s daughter, Jalisa, was diagnosed with the disease last year, the North Vancouver businessman has put the rest of his life on hold to realize his dream of raising more than $4.2 million to open the first Canadian research centre for children and teens suffering from chronic autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. To date, his foundation, Celebs for Kids, has raised more than $2.2 million.
As soon as Chandani, 44, learned there was no research centre in Canada focused on childhood autoimmune diseases, he took it upon himself to raise funds to establish the Ross Petty Research Chair in Pediatric Rheumatology at Children’s Hospital.
“We have good friends from the NHL that I could call on,” says Chandani, explaining why he immediately thought of harnessing the power of celebrity to raise funds. Seven years earlier, he had struck up a friendship with Todd Bertuzzi after the then Canucks player stopped by one of the two Esso stations that Chandani operates.
“We became friends, he introduced me to a couple of other players and I developed lasting friendships with guys like Brad May, Brendan Morrison and others. As time went on, I met more and more players and was invited to many games and events.”
For information on how you can help children and teens suffering from lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, go to www.celebsforkids.ca. Donations to Celebs for Kids can be sent to the foundation’s office located at 3136 Duchess Avenue, North Vancouver, V7K 3B6
Ismailimail 