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Vancouver, BC (January 28, 2025) – Mining for Miracles, the BC and Yukon mining industry’s long-standing fundraising campaign for BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, announced today that after two years of fundraising for the Precision Health Initiative (PHI), the fundraising goal of $3.8 million has been surpassed with nearly $4 million raised. PHI is a transformative approach to push the boundaries of medical research and harnesses state-of-the-art medical research technologies to provide answers for families of children with rare undiagnosed diseases. In 2024, a new disease (gain-of-function MARK4) was discovered under this initiative.

“The impact of innovation resulting from this generous fundraising cannot be overstated,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “Thanks to Mining for Miracles and BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, we have more access to sophisticated medical research that allows medical professional to diagnose rare diseases in children and provide them with world-class care as they undergo treatment.”

Moving into 2025, Mining for Miracles will shift their fundraising goals to focus on supporting the centre for health complexity, which is close to starting construction. The BC Children’s Hospital centre for health complexity will be for young people living with complex, chronic conditions who have difficulty performing routine daily activities without assistance, have significant caregiving requirements, and frequently use the provincial health care and social systems. Mining for Miracles’ goal is to raise $6 million for this project over the next five years.

“We are immensely proud of the ongoing support shown by the BC mining community, whose collective generosity through Mining for Miracles continues to have a profound impact,” said Rob Mean, Chair of Mining for Miracles and General Manager, Galore Creek Mining Corporation. “These contributions support important projects like the Precision Health Initiative, which builds on the success of past health and research efforts – many of which were funded by Mining for Miracles. This initiative is providing families with hope and critical answers for children facing rare, undiagnosed diseases. We are excited to renew our commitment to BC Children’s by supporting the new centre for health complexity, which will play an important role in improving the lives of children and families facing complex health challenges. Through the continued passion and dedication of our mining community, we are honored to stand behind patients and their families in their journey.”

Since 1988, Mining for Miracles has raised over $40 million to improve health care for kids throughout British Columbia. One hundred per cent of the proceeds raised goes to BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.

“Mining for Miracles and BC’s mining community have been a powerful force for change, helping transform the future of countless children and families across B.C. and the Yukon through their support of the Precision Health Initiative,” said Malcolm Berry, President and CEO, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. “Their commitment has fueled groundbreaking achievements, including a world first in 2024 – the discovery of gain-of-function MARK4, a rare disease impacting neurological development. Thanks to visionary partners like Mining for Miracles, we’re pushing boundaries in pediatric health care. We’re thrilled to have them by our side again in 2025 as we embark on another transformative initiative: the centre for health complexity.”

Mining for Miracles has supported several impactful programs that have significantly advanced the care of seriously ill children across the province and the Yukon. These programs include: the BC Children’s Hospital BioBank, the Clinical Assessment of the Utility of Sequencing and Evaluation as a Service (CAUSES) clinic, the Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (TRACE) program, Gut4Health and the Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre (CRMC). The Precision Health Initiative builds on these programs to accelerate, simplify and unify the delivery of precision health research at BC Children’s Hospital and the new centre for health complexity will be a first of its kind facility supporting patients with severe and chronic health conditions.

About BC Children’s Hospital Foundation
BC Children’s Hospital is the only hospital in the province devoted exclusively to the care of children and youth. It’s one of the few pediatric medical and teaching facilities in Canada with an acute care centre, research institute, mental health facility and rehabilitation centre all in one place. BC Children’s provides specialized care, innovative therapies and pediatric expertise for BC’s kids, including the sickest and most seriously injured. BC Children’s Hospital Foundation raises funds to provide kids with excellence in health care by continuously driving advancements provincially and globally. The generosity of donors fuels our ability to conquer childhood diseases, prevent illness and injury, and prioritize the unique needs of kids in every aspect of their care. Follow us at @bcchf or visit bcchf.ca for more information.

About Mining for Miracles
For more than 30 years, the BC mining community has worked together through Mining for Miracles to help improve the quality of health care for children in our province. Through its support of the construction of facilities, ground-breaking research, and the acquisition of specialized medical equipment at the hospital, Mining for Miracles is helping to keep BC Children’s Hospital at the forefront of excellence in pediatric care. The industry’s donations have made an enormous positive impact on the health and well-being of children, families and communities across B.C. Donations can be made online, through employee and corporate fundraising initiatives, or by supporting the Mining for Miracles Virtual Pie Throw, which will take place in early June 2025. Follow @Mining4Miracles and more details will be shared soon at: miningformiracles.ca

Media Contacts:
Callandre Peters
SOMA Public Relations
cal@somaworks.com
(778) 980-3632