2021 Splash & Dash

Splash & Dash

About the Event

Splash & Dash is the signature event for Sarah’s Fund for Cedars that raises critical funds for the needs of young cancer patients who are hospitalized on Sarah’s Floor, the in patient Hematology- Oncology division, at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. Already, over $3 million has been raised through Splash & Dash — a special event where the "heroes" on Sarah’s Floor, corporations, students, friends and family members Bike, Swim and Run for a cause.

Splash & Dash and Sarah’s Fund began in 2001 with the desire of an eight year old, Sarah, the funds namesake, wanting to help other children who also had cancer. However, her dream is far from complete. She wants to ensure that the hospital continues to have the latest equipment, the means to conduct life-saving research and the tools to teach the next generation of doctors, nurses and other specialists who will provide children with the very best possible care and services.

This year Splash & Dash will be a "virtual" event in order to ensure that our patients, staff, participants, and volunteers remain safe. To mark our 20th Anniversary, our goal is to raise $1,000,000 over 2 years for the needs of children hospitalized with cancer on Sarah’s Floor. We want to celebrate this milestone with you and raise enough money to support new cutting-edge programs and to maintain the excellent services for our young heroes.

These courageous young patients deserve the kind of support that reflects a community’s commitment to excellence and innovation; that says “we understand what you’re going through and we’re going to ensure you’re as comfortable as possible”; that brings unicorns, rainbows and smiles into their rooms despite the hardships they and their families are facing. We have our eyes set on rainbows, unicorns and smiles so please help us Go Beyond for cancer patients at the Montreal Children’s Hospital!

Help us meet our ambitious goal at the 20th edition of Splash & Dash; Sarah’s Fund for Cedars.


About Sarah’s Fund for Cedars

Sarah’s Fund for Cedars was started in 2001 by Sarah Cook, an eight-year-old girl battling Ewing’s Sarcoma who was determined to make it a little easier for the other children on the floor by buying new pillows.

For over 19 years, Sarah’s Fund has gained momentum and continues to support the efforts of the professionals who make a positive difference in the lives of hundreds of children and their families every year. The fund supports the pressing needs of the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Division by providing the best care to improve the quality of life for young cancer patients on Sarah’s Floor, at the Montreal Children’s Hospital.

Sarah’s Floor, the Hematology-Oncology In-Patient Ward serves critically ill patients who suffer from cancer and leukemia. These young patients have specific needs and often experience long-term hospital stays, which can be difficult and stressful.

Thanks to the enthusiastic giving of our Montreal community corporations and through special events, Sarah’s Fund has raised over $13 million. The Fund addresses the pressing needs of Sarah’s Floor, with positive results including:

Humanitarian Services:

This program was created to aid the families who are in need of financial assistance due to the stresses that a child’s illness can place on a family. Sarah’s Fund provides the families with essential needs such as, meal tickets, parking passes, transportation for medical needs and accommodations for families living in regions outside Quebec. This initiative allows families to focus on the care, well being and treatments of their child.

Pet Therapy:

This program provides young cancer patients with an opportunity for social and sensory interaction with therapeutic animals in the hospital setting. Sarah’s Fund contributes to helping to reduce the stress and contributes to the healing and quality of life to the young cancer patients on Sarah’s Floor.

Dr. Clown:

This program provides clowns who bring smiles and joy to young cancer patients on Sarah’s Floor. These therapeutic clowns, Dr. Fifi and Dr. Pedalo, help to relieve the stress of hospitalization by transporting the patient into a world of imagination and therapeutic play.

Music Therapy:

This program offers music therapists who use elements of music such as rhythm, melody and harmony to promote, maintain and restore physical, emotional and spiritual health. On Sarah’s Floor, the oncology-hematology in patient unit, this music health care environment helps the patient healing process.

Nursing Education:

Nurses are at the heart of every hospital. Investing in nursing education allows the dedicated hematology oncology nursing team to be at the forefront of their profession by staying abreast of best practices and to offer the highest possible standard of care to the young cancer patients.

SplashAndDash_About1  Doctor and Patient Hands  Child and Doctor


A message from Sarah Cook

Sarah-Cook

Happy 20th Anniversary!

This year marks the 20th annual Splash & Dash and I am forever grateful for the continued support we receive every year to help make the lives of pediatric cancer patients and their families on Sarah’s Floor at the Montreal Children’s Hospital a little bit easier.

I am still amazed that only 20 years ago Splash & Dash began based on a little girl’s dream of buying new pillows for all the patients being treated for cancer at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. Today, we have gone above and beyond what a girl of eight years old could have imagined.

Because of the continued support from the Montreal community, family and friends, not only have we been able to renovate the entire Montreal Children’s in-patient oncology ward, Sarah’s Floor - but we have also helped guarantee that all the programs offered on the floor continue yearly. Splash & Dash focuses on patient care; and the money raised has helped support pet therapy, music therapy, nurse education, and so many other programs that help the kids feel like kids.

This past year we have all had to deal with trying times, however, I ask you to think even further as to how this past year has also affected families battling cancer. At an already difficult time, these families are placed in the “new normal” where they don’t only have to worry about cancer, but Covid-19 as well. They felt alone, and in their time of need when they want to rely on family and friends they’ve had to isolate themselves further. So, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting Splash and Dash and Sarah’s Fund for Cedars, because the children battling cancer deserve the very best!

This year we want to make an even bigger splash for our 20th anniversary, not only do we want to raise enough funds to continue the programs offered, but we want create a program to help bridge the gap for our young adult cancer patients. Many young patients on the cusp of adulthood often require different needs then the young children being treated at the Montreal Children’s, but also need different care then what is offered at the adult site. Having relapsed myself as a young adult, my needs when I was eight were extremely different than when I was 18, not only my medical needs, but my emotional needs as well. To be able to build this program to allow for these young patients to be treated and heard has been a dream of mine and my family for quite some time and with this year’s 20th Anniversary we are finally able to reach for that dream.

This year’s event will once again be different than our usual day at the McGill Sport Complex and though our traditional event will be again missed, we are excited about our 20th Anniversary Splash & Dash Virtual Step Challenge. We have set a goal to raise $1,000.000 over 2 years to make sure we launch our new program with the support it needs for the young adult patients who deserve the very best as well as continue to support the programs already on Sarah’s Floor.

Our Splash & Dash Virtual will allow old friends to return to the event and raise funds again from wherever life has taken them around the world. Splash & Dash Virtual will also allow us to remember that we as a community are stronger together, even at a distance.

Though the world this past year has had to slowdown, cancer didn't. We have to continue to fight and support the families in need. Please help us to continue to provide the very best for the patients, families, doctors, nurses, and staff on Sarah’s Floor. Your contribution matters.

Sarah Cook, Founder of Sarah’s Fund for Cedars and Splash & Dash