“Life is not about making an impression.
It is about making a difference.”
If you have never played Ring Toss (AKA Texas Horseshoes) you haven’t fully experienced living.
This simple game offers competition, community and who would have guessed over $700,000 raised to date for research and improving the lives of those impacted by childhood cancer.
Founded in 2009, the Rossetti’s played an instrumental role in the idea and launch of an annual ‘Toss’em Up for Childhood Cancer’ ring toss tournaments in the Woodstock and Seaforth communities in memory of their cousin Nick Van Dyk. It was at this first event that birthed the beginnings of MyBabbo. Tracy created a photo book for her family to honour, celebrate and remember Nick’s life and presented it at the opening ceremonies. After the event 23 copies were ordered of Nick’s book, which led to over 50 referrals in the following months, eventually leading to the birth of the MyBabbo business. You just never know where your story will lead. This annual event takes place the first Saturday of June each year and sells out with over 500 people participating in the festivities.
Did you know that childhood cancer is a totally different cancer than adult cancer and therefore required different research? That childhood cancer receives only 3% of all the cancer research investment in Canada? Or that 1,700 children are diagnosed with cancer every year in Canada and 10,000 children are living with cancer or its long term effects? These stats, the stories and families Tracy met through their annual Toss’em Up for Childhood Cancer events inspired her to do more for kids with cancer and their families.
In 2016, Tracy cycled across Canada over the month of September to raise funds and awareness for childhood cancer. Alongside 12 other cyclists, they peddled their way from Vancouver to Halifax in 17 days covering approximately 3000kms. They stopped at local communities and a number of children’s hospitals across the country to meet childhood cancer survivors and their families and to raise a ton of money to improve the quality of life for children and their families living with, and beyond cancer.
It was one of the best experiences of Tracy’s life. She rode in memory of her cousin Nick Van Dyk and was fortunate to share this experience with her cousin, Nick’s sister, Laura and her husband Stephen, as well as her mom Mary and her Aunt Margie who traveled alongside the cyclists in a support role. Many of Tracy’s friends and relatives joined in this experience, including Jodi Rison, the long-time head of MyBabbo Customer Service and cycled from Ontario to Quebec.
At MyBabbo, we are passionate about helping serve those burdened by the injustices of poverty and slavery through the world. We are honoured to support the ‘Kids in Crisis’ Centre since 2010, which is an orphanage located in Guinea West Africa, that helps children affected by AIDS, orphaned and abandoned. Specifically, it provides medical aid, nutrition, education and in many cases full-time shelter and care for these children. In 2011, Mirco was able to visit the orphanage and live alongside these children. Then in 2016 one of our team members, Kati Fluit went to serve at the orphanage.
