Mighty Warriors Foundation

Supporting families with chronically ill children by promoting mental health, and well-being.

Enhancing the living standards of such families through services, programs, events and activities.

Promoting awareness, community and peer support for the families.

About Us

Founded in May 2023, Mighty Warriors is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting families with chronically ill children in British Columbia. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for the children, their caregivers and siblings, with a primary focus on mental health and well-being.

We recognize the tremendous challenge that these families face on a daily basis. The emotional, physical and financial burdens can be overwhelming, often leaving families feeling isolated and without adequate support. We are committed to providing comprehensive support and resources to help these families navigate this difficult journey.

We want to create a future where every family affected by childhood chronic illness feels supported, empowered and resilient, and where mental health is prioritized as an integral part of their journey.

Be part of Mighty Warriors, as we embark on this mission to make a difference in these families lives.

We recognize that these parents and caregivers are selflessly focused on supporting their children, they often neglect taking care of themselves, physically and emotionally. By providing nutritious food, basics personal care necessities and opportunities to focus on their own mental health, they can then be their best and strongest versions for their children.

All programs are offered to our families at no charge.

Our programs

  • MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

    Next Mental Health Workshop - November 7th, 2024

    Through partnerships with qualified mental health practitioners, we provide group workshops, and individual and couples counselling. By providing accessible counselling services for the unique needs of each family member, will help them better navigate the emotional and psychological challenges they face, guiding them towards a more resilient, and stronger path forward.

  • PERSONAL CARE-GIVER BINS

    Bins are located at BC Children’s Hospital on inpatient units.

    Mighty Warriors provides basic personal care necessities to caregivers, ensuring that their basic needs are met during their time in hospital with their children. By recognizing the important of personal care and offering these essential items, we aim to provide a sense of comfort, and relief during a challenging time.

    *Contact us if you have items to donate to our program such as new and unused toiletries, socks, slippers, electronic chargers, etc.

  • SNACK BINS

    Coming Soon

    We provide nutritious and convenient snacks for caregivers while in hospital with their children. Bins are located in the communal kitchens of each floor at BC Children’s Hospital.

    *Contact us if you have snacks, food or beverage items to donate to our program.

 Volunteer

Join the Mighty Warriors Foundation as a volunteer. By dedicating your time and skills, you can contribute to our mission of providing support, and creating positive change for families with chronically ill children in BC.

Contact us to find for more information and guidance on hosting a successful event!

Want to host a fundraising event for Mighty Warriors Foundation?

Join us on this journey.

If you have a chronically ill child, Mighty Warriors is dedicated to providing your family unwavering support. Contact us to discover the various ways we can assist you, offering essential care, resources, and mental health management and empowering the whole family to thrive, both physically and mentally.

Stay connected

Make a donation.

Your donations enable us to support more families, run impactful programs, and launch new initiatives. Together, we can inspire hope, transform lives, and leave a lasting impression. Be part of something extraordinary by donating today. Together, we can make a difference.

Ways to donate:

  • One-time Donations

  • Ongoing Donations

  • In-kind Donations

  • Sponsorships

Our Board

  • Rachael Fortier

    Board Chair

    Inspired by her twin nephews battle with leukemia, and wanting to help, Rachael founded Mighty Warriors in May 2023.

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    Working as an Assistant Director in the film industry, Rachael brings her leadership skills and creative vision to her role with the foundation. As a devoted partner and mother, she understands the importance of family mental well-being, and advocates for mental health initiatives and raising awareness of the unique challenges faced by families with chronically ill children.

    Through the foundation, Rachael’s able to bring her heart, passion and drive together to help hundreds of families across BC during the most difficult times in their lives.

  • Michael Openshaw

    Board Vice-Chair

    As a sales professional and a parent to twin boys battling leukemia, Mike is honored to serve as a Board Member for Mighty Warriors Foundation.

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    With firsthand experience, Mike brings empathy and a unique perspective to the cause. Leveraging his sales expertise, he will advocate for mental health, and comprehensive support services for all members of the families. Together, we will make a difference in the lives of families with children affected by chronic illness. Committed to driving positive change, Mike is grateful for the opportunity to serve as Board Member and bring hope to those in need.

  • Tanja Knight

    Board Secretary/Treasurer

    Tanja has been a part of Mighty Warriors since it’s inception in May 2023.

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    Through her own experiences with a chronic illness in her family, Tanja is passionate about helping other families during their difficult journeys.

    She has 20 years of experience in project management, a degree in business administration as well as started a company in the midst of the pandemic.

    She strives to use these skills to meaningfully contribute to Mighty Warriors mission and hopes to make a positive difference in the lives of each family.

  • James Shellborn

    Board Member

    James Shellborn is a father of two daughters, has been married to his wife Kristy for 18 years, and lives in Maple Ridge, BC.

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    He is a Financial Advisor holding the Certified Financial Planner, Chartered Investment Manager, and Certified Exit Planner designations. Prior to entering financial services, he worked in the industrial supply industry for 17 years, most of that time in a senior management capacity overseeing purchasing, and contributing to the company’s operations, analytics, and marketing efforts.

    James believes strongly in directly serving his community in meaningful and practical ways. Having had several family members and friends battle through chronic illness, and in particular cancer, he is passionately committed to helping families find the resources they need to fight their battle.

  • Gordie Piper

    Board Member

    Gordie is a 1st Assistant Director in Vancouver’s film industry. In his spare time Gordie enjoys as much time as he can with his family, as well as various forms of fitness and sports.

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    After spending five and a half months with his son in the PICU at BC Children’s Hospital, and experiencing the help first hand that was needed for parents who have a critically ill child. Gordie and his family find it important to help out other families in similar hardships and want to help support in anyway.

  • Sasha Idema

    Board Member

    Sasha has a personal connection to childhood illness, having battled a rare autoimmune condition as a teenager and spending a lot of time at BC Children’s Hospital. This fuels her passion for advocating childhood illness awareness and family support.

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    Besides her dedication to childhood illness advocacy, Sasha volunteers in animal welfare. She founded Vanimal, a dog rescue organization saving dogs from kill shelters across the U.S.

    Professionally, Sasha is a Mortgage Broker, using her network to support fundraising for charitable causes. Her connections help raise awareness and resources for childhood illness research and support programs.

    Sasha's diverse background and experiences make her a compassionate advocate and effective leader in the fight against childhood illness, combining empathy and action in her contributions to Mighty Warriors.

Our Partners