There are many volunteers of all ages at the Peace Arch Hospital.
One group of volunteers is the Junior Auxiliary. Sponsored by the Peace Arch Hospital Auxiliary, these high school students make a huge difference in the lives of the people that they interact with when volunteering.
At our annual general meeting in June, the auxiliary gives bursaries in the amount of $2,000 to students that are members of our Junior Auxiliary Program. This year, we have three very deserving bursary recipients.
Shaina Dhalla began her experience with the hospital as part of the Earl Marriott Secondary co-op program. She worked on the 5 north rehabilitation unit and says she was amazed at how simple gestures have a way of transforming patients, lighting up their faces and in a way, helping their healing process.
Shaina is active in the community and has also volunteered at two pre-schools and at the White Rock South Surrey Hospice. She is also a dedicated soccer player.
Shaina will be attending UBC in the fall with the goal of becoming a thoracic surgeon. This was a decision made while visiting some post-operative patients at the hospital.
Alisha Walia attended Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary and she has volunteered at the Superfluity Shop on Saturday afternoons since 2013. She enjoyed working as a cashier and helping out wherever needed, including all the duties necessary to close the shop.
Alisha has extensive volunteering experience in the community, including working on projects benefiting Doctors Without Borders, Coast Cottages Mental Health and White Rock South Surrey Hospice. She also participated in Encounters with Canada, a conference held in Ottawa, where she learned more about medicine, health and possible careers.
Her desire to pursue a career in nursing was confirmed through her volunteer work at the Superfluity Shop. She will be attending Kwantlen Polytechnic University in the fall.
Kai Zhu began volunteering in 2013 and has volunteered in residential care assisting with the Ice Cream Sunday program. He also volunteers in the emergency department directing visitors to other areas of the hospital, providing patient comfort and compassion and liaising with patient families.
Kai attended Semiahmoo Secondary, taking the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. He was vice-president and a director of the Volunteer Earthworks and Globalizers Club. This club has raised more than $20,000. He is also active in the Heart and Stroke Foundation and is a director of Cactes Association which has helped raise more than $5,000 for a gravity-fed water system in Nepal.
In the fall, he will be attending McMaster University to pursue a career in medicine. He says that he wants to offer assistance to people during the most difficult times in their lives. He hopes to help inspire people and participate in Doctors without Borders.
We wish all our bursary winners much success in their future studies.