By Cilantro and Chive

power of a smile

Letter: Remembering Ty Hultink, Cilantro and Chive makes donation to Stollery

May 7, 2022 | 7:01 PM

“Never underestimate the power of a smile.”

And when you combine a bright smile, a brave young man, and a supportive community, you put smiles into action for other young people facing challenging times.

Tyler Hultink knew how to brighten your day, he was full of adventure and found joy in making others laugh, even on his hardest days. He fought a courageous 17-month battle with brain cancer, passing away in April at the age of 15.

We were honoured to have had an opportunity to get to know Ty. Our culinary team was invited to be a part of a fun morning for Ty, helping to fulfill a wish of his to ride a bike and enjoy a chocolate milk. Of course, we couldn’t serve him up just a regular chocolate milk, we had to load it up with his favourite treats, creating Ty’s Chocolate Milk Stack.

(Supplied)

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After learning the Hultink family was collecting Lego for Child Life in Ty’s honour, we knew we wanted to help. So, our team got to work re-creating Ty’s Chocolate Milk Stack, it landed on our Lacombe menu for one week, with 100% of the proceeds going to Child Life to purchase Lego, and toys. Child Life helps kids and families cope with the stress and uncertainty of acute and chronic illness, injury, trauma, disability, loss, and bereavement.

For eight days, our hearts were warmed as we witnessed family, classmates, community members, friends, even strangers, connect, share stories, and honour Ty. There were smiles, hugs, tears, and so much love for Ty. Today we’re humbled to join the Hultink family to help share Ty’s love of Lego, and his kind spirit with other families facing unimaginable battles of their own.

Thanks to our incredible community the Hultinks helped us turn over $3,213 to the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation for Child Life.

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