Fuchsia Dragon | [email protected]
Marco Bulfon has presented yet another giant cheque to the Stollery Children鈥檚 Hospital Foundation in Edmonton.
Young Bulfon has been raising money for the Edmonton hospital since 2017, after his sister Eliana became ill with pneumonia and was treated there.
And with his 2020 donation of $2,828, he has now raised $14,649 for the foundation, which helps fund specialized care at Stollery Children鈥檚 Hospital.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important because I want all the kids in the world to feel the same and have fun and not always be in hospital or hurt themselves or have sickness, but feel better so they can go and play,鈥� Bulfon said.
Bulfon went to Stollery on Dec. 29 to present the year鈥檚 big cheque - this time going to an office rather than the hospital itself - and took photos in a nearby park.
鈥淚t felt very good, I felt very proud of myself,鈥� 11-year-old Bulfon said.
鈥淭hey said it was really great I have been donating this long.鈥�
The young Jasperite started his fundraising efforts with a lemonade stand at Becker鈥檚 Chalets in the summer of 2017, and the operation has grown each year to include sales of chocolate covered almonds, beef jerky, CDs and gift cards.
In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bulfon could not hold his daily fundraising stand and said he did not ask for donations because of people鈥檚 added hardships.
Even so, friends, family and community members were eager to support Bulfon鈥檚 efforts, and he raised $427 through Fundscrip, a gift card fundraising platform, with a further $2,400 collected in donations.
鈥淚 really want to say thank you so much for donating,鈥� Bulfon said. 鈥淵ou donated to a great cause.鈥�
Last September, Bulfon was named the top fundraiser in his age category, ages eight to 11, at the Stollery Superstars Party in Edmonton.
And Bulfon has no plans to stop fundraising just yet. He said he is 鈥渧ery hopeful鈥� health restrictions will ease and allow him to hold his lemonade stand again this summer.
And this year, his little sister Eliana is keen to join the fundraising efforts.
Parents Emma and Emanuele said they are very proud of their son.
Emma said, 鈥淭hank you so much, considering the times we are in, thank you for donating to this special cause.鈥�
Bulfon鈥檚 2021 Stollery Children鈥檚 Hospital Foundation fundraising page will be set up soon, and gift cards can be purchased at .
