Sparked by the imagination of a young person living with severe physical disabilities, a Shine Dream helps young people aged 11 – 21 think differently about their future, imagine new possibilities, and develop a sense of purpose that can last a lifetime.
Our program helps them gain confidence and see themself differently as someone who can vs. someone who can’t. We help lay the foundation to change the trajectory of their life.
Read life-changing Shine stories below:
Ryan grew up as an active young boy in his hometown of Windsor, ON. He was very athletic and enjoyed playing hockey and soccer with his friends. But that all changed at the age of thirteen when he was diagnosed with stage four Ewing Sarcoma.
Twelve-year-old Ahmad and his brother, twenty-one-year-old AbdAllah both live with different severities of cerebral palsy but together, had wanted to build stronger connections with the world.
Five years ago (in 2015) you helped this feisty 8-year-old boy run the 5k marathon of his life. Today, at 14, he’s training for a triathlon.
When James was eight years old he had two passions: running and Star Wars.
Albert is an eleven-year old from Markham, ON who finds joy in life from being active.
Maddy McKenzie is a country music girl at heart and comes from the small town of Oakland, ON.
Owen, the new General Manager of the Edmonton Oilers, rolled into the Rogers Place Arena in style, sporting a crisp suit and shiny brown leather loafers.
Twelve-year-old Chadd has a dream that he is determined to make happen… and with Shine's help, the first steps have already come true.
Maddy is a country music girl at heart and was taught how to play guitar from her dad. She has been working to overcome challenges of living with low vision but is determined to become a major Canadian country music artist.
At the age of ten, Amy was diagnosed with a form of muscular dystrophy that progressively weakens her muscles over time.
Victoria is a twenty-year-old from Saint John, NB who lives with a neurological developmental delay and low muscle development.
Whether you grew up listening to the hits of the Beach Boys, New Kids on the Block, Backstreet Boys or One Direction, swooning over the looks and the lyrics of a boy band is a common part of a teenage girls’ upbringing.
“It was hard for my parents (and siblings) to watch their daughter be in pain and go through things they couldn’t help with,” Tanisha describes.
