A Halloween dance-a-thon boogied its way back to Holland Bloorview for the second year in a row raising a cumulative $83,000 to date thanks to sisters Shiloh, Amaris and Jaiden Terner.

More than 100 GTA high school students donned costumes and visited the hospital on October 28 to lend their support. All funds raised will go towards the highest-priority needs at Holland Bloorview, which include innovative programs and services that promote and support mental health as well as cutting-edge research that help kids with disabilities and developmental differences move, speak, play, learn and grow.

Jaiden Terner is a first year Masters of Education student at OISE, who co-chaired the event. She took the reigns from her younger sister, Shiloh Terner, who was a former Holland Bloorview volunteer and who founded the event last year. Together with their other sister Amaris, and co-chair Kylie Armstrong, a Grade 12 student at Greenwood College School, the trio managed recruitment, marketing and the budget for the event. They say that the opportunity to help raise money to support inclusive experiences and opportunities for children and youth with disabilities is something that resonates.

“When my sister Shiloh launched this initiative last year, she set an ambitious target of $25,000. You can imagine how thrilled, and surprised, we were when our inaugural event raised $46,000. We knew we had to come back from a second year!” says Jaiden Terner. “As a teacher-in-training I believe in equitable experiences in the classroom – and beyond. Creating opportunities for young people with disabilities to is something that I’m passionate about.”

Adds Armstrong: “As someone with ADHD who identifies as neurodiverse, it meant a lot to me to be able to co-chair this year’s event. A lot of events aren’t inclusive and I think it’s important to create equal opportunities for everyone to attend, and belong.”

Sandra Hawken, president and CEO, Holland Bloorview Foundation, says it’s inspiring to see young people across the GTA continue to support Holland Bloorview and its vision of the most meaningful and healthy futures for children and youth with disabilities. 

“We are so grateful to Jaiden, Shiloh, Amaris and Kylie for organizing this amazing event. The funds raised will go directly to support some of the hospital’s highest priority needs – including mental health programs, arts and recreation and our advocacy work around disability awareness and inclusion,” says Hawken.