Austin's Disney World adventure
For over 30 years, Manitoba Blue Cross has been joining forces with the Children's Wish Foundation and other Blue Cross plans across the country to provide wish children with the travel insurance necessary to make their dream trips come true.
Fifteen-year-old Austin is one of the many incredible children from Manitoba who have benefited from this partnership and was able to fulfill his wish of going to Disney World with his friends and family.
Austin is a resilient young man with microcephaly and spastic quadriplegia. He is severely developmentally delayed, non-verbal and has a cortical visual impairment. He was also diagnosed with a seizure disorder.
One word to describe Austin is amazing – he smiles and powers his way through days that would bring most of us to our knees. He loves anything that goes fast. He loves school and he adores his friends. He has been at the same school since kindergarten and has developed a very strong bond with many of the kids he has grown up with. He teaches and inspires them every day!
We were lucky to be able to speak with Austin's mother, Jacqueline, about his trip.
We hear Austin likes anything fast. Did Austin have any fast adventures on the trip?
Austin went on as many fast rides at Disney and Universal that he could, including one of the smaller roller coasters. His favourite was the Mad Hatter's Tea Party – and the spinning tea cups – we couldn't get them spinning as fast as we wanted, because Austin's dad was afraid though!
What was Austin's favourite part of the trip?
One of Austin's favourite parts was the morning we had breakfast at Disney and were joined by Mickey, Minnie and Goofy. They treated Austin like he was a celebrity, and Austin loved that!
We hear Austin brought his best friends along. What was that experience like?
Austin, Emmy and Alyssa had a blast together. Austin enjoyed having his two friends to hang out with every day, and they spoiled him – pushing him fast in his wheelchair, going on rides with him, hanging out at the pool. We all have such great memories from this week and still talk about it when we get together.
What is Austin's favourite Disney movie or character?
Well, I would have to say since Minnie told Austin at their breakfast together that she liked him better than Mickey – I think he has a little crush on Minnie right now!
What does Austin do for fun?
Austin really likes to be in the water, so we try to take him swimming whenever we can. He loves being outside and we go for lots of walks in the summer, although mom never can push him fast enough! He also enjoys music, Paw Patrol and spending time with his friends!
March is Children's Wish month! To celebrate, Blue Cross is holding a draw for a $5,000 travel voucher. Visit www.bluecrossiwish.ca by March 31 to enter.
Manitoba Blue Cross funds warehouse space for Sleep in Heavenly Peace
The Sleep in Heavenly Peace building, sponsored by Manitoba Blue Cross, will provide ample space for bed construction, assembly and storage, streamlining the entire process and ensuring that more kids have access to a safe and comfortable place to sleep.
“A warm, safe bed should not be a luxury – it is a fundamental right. That’s why Manitoba Blue Cross is stepping up to support Sleep in Heavenly Peace for years to come,” says Benjamin Graham, president and CEO of Manitoba Blue Cross. “We are providing essential resources that Sleep in Heavenly Peace needs to expand their operations and reach more children in the community. This investment aligns with our own commitment to support the health and well-being of all Manitobans, and we are proud to play an ongoing role in ensuring no child sleeps on the floor.”
This new facility will allow SHP to:
- increase production capacity: With a large, dedicated space and the ability to build beds in the colder months, SHP volunteers can now build and assemble more than twice as many beds, reducing wait times for families in need.
- improve storage capabilities: The facility will provide secure storage for completed beds before delivery can occur while allowing for more efficient and timely delivery.
- enhance the volunteer experience: The workspace will create a more comfortable and efficient environment for volunteers – who are the backbone of SHP’s operations – to build and store beds all year long.
“This generous support from Manitoba Blue Cross is a game changer for us,” says Jim Thiessen, co-president of the local chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace. “This new space will allow us to drastically increase the number of beds we build and deliver, ensuring that more children in our community have a safe and comfortable place to sleep. We currently build approximately 400 beds a year and we hope to now increase that to 1,000. We are incredibly grateful for Manitoba Blue Cross’s continued commitment to our mission.”
Join us in helping local children find comfort: Manitoba Blue Cross holds annual bedding drive
Support this valuable cause during our annual bedding drive. Donate new, twin-sized bedding items, including comforters, pillows and sheet sets for local children. Donations can be dropped off weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at Manitoba Blue Cross (599 Empress Street in Winnipeg) until June 20.
Online donations toward bedding purchases can be made at https://bit.ly/50beds.
“Our focus at Manitoba Blue Cross is the health and well-being of all Manitobans. We’re committed to building healthier communities – one bed and one good night’s sleep at a time,” says Benjamin Graham, president and CEO of Manitoba Blue Cross. “The outpouring of support that Manitobans showed last year did not disappoint and this generosity helped to create safe havens for local kids. I’m certain the same community spirit that Manitoba is known for will be seen again this year.”
Manitoba Blue Cross holds second annual bed build event
“The bed build event that was held in 2024 to celebrate our 50th anniversary had a profound impact on our staff and myself. Building those beds at Blue Cross Park was incredibly inspiring. We had to turn away staff who wanted to participate,” says Benjamin Graham, president and CEO of Manitoba Blue Cross. “That hands-on work really connected us to this important cause, and I believe it also helped us build stronger bonds within our team.”
Employee volunteers from the health benefits provider, along with SHP volunteers, will be constructing 50 beds for local kids on June 6, 2025 at Blue Cross Park.
To encourage the community to support this valuable cause, Manitoba Blue Cross is also holding a bedding drive once again. Donate new, twin-sized bedding items, including comforters, pillows and sheet sets for local kids. Donations can be dropped off weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at Manitoba Blue Cross (599 Empress Street in Winnipeg) until June 20.
Online donations toward bedding purchases can be made at https://bit.ly/50beds.