Another milestone for Team Addy
Nursing station at Sick Kids' hospital named in her honour
TORONTO – Team Addy reached another milestone moment on Feb. 26 as Toronto’s Sick Kids’ Hospital named the eight floor nursing station in honour of Addison Hill, the Elora girl who died at 14 but made a huge impact in her short life.
Addy, as she was called, died from a rare form of cancer in 2022. It was her wish to hold a basketball tournament and lemonade stand to raise funds for research.
Since then, a powerful team of volunteers, Team Addy, initiated fundraising efforts for Dr. David Malkin, her doctor at Sick Kids who is conducting research into sarcoma cancer.
When their $500,000 goal was reached, Addison Hill’s name was installed on Malkin’s lab doors.
With a renewed $1-million pledge, the name “Team Addy” was placed above the nursing station.
“It was a beautiful moment,” said Addy’s mother Jessica Hill. “This is where she got her chemo. Everyone knew her on this floor. And now it’s the first thing you see off the elevator.
“It’s meaningful, especially for someone who thought they would be forgotten.”
Hill said during a lovely ceremony Malkin spoke about his work and a recent $5-million research grant he received.
“It’s because of Team Addy funding that Dr. Malkin has been able to take risks. And it’s because he took risks that he was able to secure a $5-million grant,” said Hill. “He’s working toward a cancer vaccine and that’s pretty cool ... Addy started this one wish and we are honouring her wish.”
Team Addy is gearing up for its basketball tournament on July 11 and the Addytude concert on Sept. 19.
Numerous individuals and groups also hold third-party fundraisers for the cause, which is extremely helpful and generous, Hill said.
Small or large, these donations push Team Addy towards its goal. Hill told the story of a young girl who donated her birthday gifts – $80 – to the team, which is beyond generous.
“Every little bit counts and we will never stop,” she said.
