Monday, October 21, 2019

Welcome to the GoodHearts Transplant Foundation


The GoodHearts Transplant Foundation is a registered charity which provides housing and financial aid to transplant patients who are treated at the University of Alberta Hospital, Canada’s biggest and busiest organ transplant centre.

GoodHearts  Transplant Foundation was established in 2006 and is registered in Alberta, Canada.

GoodHearts provides:

  • Six furnished apartments at the Galen Lofts, located across the street from the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute
  • Food and gas cards distributed by the U of A Hospital transplant social workers
Please visit our Transplant Housing page for more information on these services.

GoodHearts raises:

  • Organ and tissue donor awareness

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

6th Annual 2nd Chance Trail Ride

If you'd like to donate to the 2nd Chance Trail Ride click the Donate Now! button. When you are filling out the donation form, choose > Your Donation Will Support: 2nd Chance Trail Ride.

The following information is provided by the GoodHearts Transplant Foundation on behalf of the 6th  Annual 2nd Chance Trail Ride:

Travel the historic Iron Horse Trail from Lindbergh to Elk Point with us on horse or wagon as we raise Organ & Tissue Donation Awareness and support those going through the organ transplant process.

Event Information


Ride day – Saturday, May 13th, 2017
Location – Lindbergh to Elk Point on the Iron Horse Trail
Cost – $30 per rider

Pre-Registration & Camping


Early Registration is available on May 12, 2016 from 6 pm - 8 pm in Elk Point. There is free overnight camping available at C.G. Baker Memorial Arena; across from the Allied Arts Building. Water for your horses will be available but no power hook up.


Trailer Transportation


We will have transportation available from 9:45 to 10:30 from Elk Point to Lindbergh so your truck can be ready for you at the end of the trail ride. There are hitching rails to tie horses during the move. Please have someone to watch your horses while you move your truck and trailer. Should you miss the bussing opportunity discuss with the parking coordinators having someone drive your truck and trailer to Elk Point.
Donation to GoodHearts at the 2013 AGM

Morning Registration


There will be coffee and muffins available during registration. Each individual partaking in the ride is required to fill out a participant waiver. This includes even those riding on a wagon! This also helps us get a solid count on how many people are partaking in the ride! Registration takes place in the cookhouse in Lindbergh at the hitching area of the Iron Horse Trail. There is a riders fee of $30 for each individual participating in the trail ride, the riders fee will be waived should you collect more than $30 in pledges.

Schedule


8:30am – 10:30am Registration in Lindbergh hitching station

11:00am Ride begins. Lunch will be provided on the trail

5:30pm Catered Supper. Tickets are $25. Dance, with silent and live auctions, and a dance

Funds raised will go to assist in maintaining apartments used by transplant recipients, the signage campaign to continue to bring awareness to organ and tissue donation and financially assisting those going through the transplant process.
Your support in collecting pledges is needed, contact 2nd Chance Trail Ride for your pledge sheet and start collecting today!

About the 2nd Chance Trail Ride

If you had the opportunity to save someone's life wouldn’t you? Becoming an Organ & Tissue donor is exactly that! It is the opportunity to save a life. Our organization was created in 2012 with the mission of increasing organ & tissue donation awareness as well as providing support for individuals going through the transplant process.

Our past events have seen great success with the opening of four apartments for recipients to stay during their recovery that is across the street from the U of A Hospital. This was done in joint with the GoodHearts Transplant Foundation. In the last couple of years we have launched a signage program; placing signs along major roadways, and in hockey and curling rinks across northern Alberta.



Last year's event was a huge success with 270 horseback/wagon riders and the raising of $70,000!

Our fundraising efforts this year will be split 50-20-20-10.

50% of funds raised will go towards our ongoing work with the GoodHearts Transplant Foundation to maintain the rental of apartments for individuals going through the transplant process. These apartments are just a walk across the street from the hospital and provide a homey, comfortable environment for healing.

We are continuing our signage campaign by putting signs in hockey rinks, curling rinks, and other public venues in communities to raise Awareness of Organ and Tissue Donation. It is our goal to ensure that individuals understand the importance of signing your organ donor card, or registering as an organ donor, but most importantly the necessity of talking to your family about your wishes.

20% of proceeds will go towards individuals going through the transplant process. Gift visas, parking passes, and gas cards will greatly help families negate some of the transplant process.

The remaining 10% will be used to put on next year's event.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

Further Information



If you have any questions please contact one of our committee members:

Lloydminster Area: Gary Hefner (780) 871-8892

Fort Saskatchewan Area: Harvey Nelson (780) 992-0684 or (780) 903-0502

Elk Point Area: Morris Irvine (780) 724-4027 or (780) 614-3554

St. Paul Area: Tom Matthews (780) 614-5955

Bonnyville Area: Ed Cadieux (780) 812-2356 or Donna Cadieux (780) 812-2356

To purchase supper tickets please call or text: Cathy Ockerman: (780) 210-0045

If you would like to donate to our Silent or Live Auction please contact: Julie Boyko (780) 812-6232

You can also contact us by email:
secondchancetrailride@hotmail.com

Thursday, April 7, 2016

5th Annual 2nd Chance Trail Ride

If you'd like to donate to the 2nd Chance Trail Ride click the Donate Now! button. When you are filling out the donation form, choose > Your Donation Will Support: 2nd Chance Trail Ride.

The following information is provided by the GoodHearts Transplant Foundation on behalf of the Third Annual 2nd Chance Trail Ride:

Come ride with us on our 5th annual 2nd Chance Trail Ride in support of organ & tissue donation awareness. The ride will be a slow pleasure ride of approximately 5 hours through natural lands.

Event Information

Ride day – Saturday, May 14th, 2016
Location – Lindbergh to Heinsburg on the Iron Horse Trail
Cost – $30 per rider

Pre-Registration & Camping

Early Registration is available on May 13, 2016 from 6 pm - 8 pm in Heisnburg at the end point of the trail ride. There is overnight camping available in Heinsburg.

Schedule

6pm – 8pm Early registration, Friday, May 13

8:30am – 10am Registration at Lindbergh hitching station

11:00am Ride begins. Lunch will be provided at Middle Creek.

5:30pm Catered Supper. Tickets are $25. Only 400 Supper tickets available. Dance, with Silent and Live Auctions with a Live band to follow. 
After 7:00pm there will be a $10 admission fee for the Dance and Silent/Live Auction only. (Dependent on Hall capacity.)



Donation to GoodHearts at the 2013 AGM
Collect your money and record your pledges on the pledge form available for download below. Cheques should be written to GoodHearts Transplant Foundation if an official tax receipt is required. When you arrive on May 14th please have your donations collected and your pledge sheet balanced. We recommend you make a photocopy of your pledges for future reference. You are encouraged to have your sponsorship in cheque payments to minimize work and reduce the chance of theft. Please fill out a separate registration form for each rider including children. This way we can keep track of all riders.

About the 2nd Chance Trail Ride

If you had the opportunity to save someone's life wouldn’t you? Becoming an Organ & Tissue donor is exactly that! It is the opportunity to save a life. Our organization was created in 2012 with the mission of increasing organ & tissue donation awareness as well as providing support for individuals going through the transplant process.

Our past events have seen great success with the opening of four apartments for recipients to stay during their recovery that is across the street from the U of A Hospital. This was done in joint with the GoodHearts Transplant Foundation. We also donated funds for the Canadian Transplant games. Together with the Canadian Transplant Organization this past year we launched a signage program placing signs along major roadways, and in hockey and curling rinks across northern Alberta.

Click for larger version
to print
Last year's event was a huge success with 261 horseback/wagon riders and the raising of $70,000!

Our fundraising efforts this year will be split 50-20-20-10.


50% of funds raised will go towards our ongoing work with the GoodHearts Transplant Foundation to maintain the rental of apartments for individuals going through the transplant process. These apartments are just a walk across the street from the hospital and provide a homey, comfortable environment for healing.

We are continuing our signage campaign by putting signs in hockey rinks, curling rinks, and other public venues in communities to raise Awareness of Organ and Tissue Donation. It is our goal to ensure that individuals understand the importance of signing your organ donor card, or registering as an organ donor, but most importantly the necessity of talking to your family about your wishes.

20% of proceeds will go towards individuals going through the transplant process. Gift visas, parking passes, and gas cards will greatly help families negate some of the transplant process.

The remaining 10% will be used to put on next year's event.

We thank everyone who donates to our cause, big or small, every bit counts!

 
Information Brochure
Click for larger version to print
Forms & Information to Download


Further Information


If you have any questions please contact one of our committee members:

Lloydminster Area: Gary Hefner (780) 871-8892

Fort Saskatchewan Area: Harvey Nelson (780) 992-0684 or (780) 903-0502

Elk Point Area: Morris Irvine (780) 724-4027 or (780) 614-3554

St. Paul Area: Tom Matthews (780) 614-5955

Bonnyville Area: Ed Cadieux (780) 812-2356

To purchase supper tickets please contact: Cathy Ockerman: 780-724-250 or 780-210-0045

If you would like to donate to our Silent or Live Auction please contact: Lori Nelson: 780-724-2972

You can also contact us by email: secondchancetrailride@hotmail.com

Monday, February 23, 2015

Fourth Annual 2nd Chance Trail Ride

If you'd like to donate to the 2nd Chance Trail Ride click the Donate Now! button. When you are filling out the donation form, choose > Your Donation Will Support: 2nd Chance Trail Ride.

The following information is provided by the GoodHearts Transplant Foundation on behalf of the Third Annual 2nd Chance Trail Ride:

Come ride with us on our third annual 2nd Chance Trail Ride in support of organ donation awareness. The ride will be a slow pleasure ride of approximately 5 hours through natural lands.

Event Information

Ride day – Saturday May 9th, 2015
Location – Lindbergh to Heinsburg
on the Iron Horse Trail
$30 per rider -or- horse & wagon (You must bring your own horse and wagon)

Pre-Registration & Camping

Early Registration is available on May 8, 2015 from 6:00 PM—9:00 PM ($30/participant) in Heisnburg at the end point of the trail ride. There is overnight camping available at the Heinsburg Water Tower. There are no water or power hook ups. The cost is $10 a night. Cheques can be made out to Heinsburg Community Club.



Trailer Transportation

We will have transportation (donated by Prairie Tech) available from 9:45 to 10:30 from Heinsburg to Lindbergh so your truck can be ready for you at the end of the trail ride. There are hitching rails to tie horses during the move. Please have someone to watch your horses while you move your truck and trailer.

Morning Registration

There will be coffee and muffins available during registration. First 200 Registered participants will receive a 2nd Chance Trail Ride keepsake! Each individual partaking in the ride is required to fill out a participant waiver. This includes even those riding on a wagon. This also helps us get a solid count on how many people are partaking in the ride. Registration and pledge sheets to be handed in takes place in the cookhouse in Lindbergh at the hitching area of the Iron Horse Trail.

Schedule

(times on schedule may change slightly)

6pm – 9pm Early registration on site, Friday May 8 - $30/rider

8:30am – 10am Registration- $30/rider

11:00am Ride starts. Bring a halter to tie your horse for lunch (lunch is provided).
Hall will be open during the day and silent auction items will be set up. Enter your bid on the silent auction items.

5:30pm Supper – $25/ticket

7:00pm Presentation from Dr. Lori West ; Director, Canadian National Transplant Research Program

8:00pm Live and Silent Auction

9:00pm Live Country Music
Donation to GoodHearts at the 2013 AGM
Collect your money and record your pledges on the enclosed pledge form. Cheques should be written to GoodHearts Foundation if an official tax receipt is required. When you arrive on May 9th please have your donations collected and your pledge sheet balanced. We recommend you make a photocopy of your pledges for future reference. You are encouraged to have your sponsorship in cheque payments to minimize work and reduce the chance of theft. Please fill out a separate registration form for each rider including children. This way we can keep track of all riders. A “Participant Waiver” must be signed for each rider. Registration forms and waiver forms are required at Ride Registration on site.

About the 2nd Chance Trail Ride

If you had the opportunity to save someone's life wouldn’t you? Becoming an Organ & Tissue donor is exactly that! It is the opportunity to save a life. Our organization was created in 2012 with the mission of increasing organ & tissue donation awareness as well as providing support for individuals going through the trans-plant process.

Our past events have seen great success with supporting GoodHearts with opening of two apartments for recipients to stay during their recovery. These apartments are right across the street from the U of A Hospital. 2nd Chance Trail Ride has also donated funds for the Canadian Transplant games. This past year, 2nd Chance Trail ride launched a signage campaign for Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness, placing signs along major roadways, and in hockey and curling rinks across Alberta.

The majority funds raised from our 4th Annual Trail Ride will go to GoodHearts Foundation. Your support will continue to assist GoodHearts in maintaining the apartments and to possibly even open another one. 2nd Chance Trail Ride will use funds to continue to support recipients of organ or tissue transplants going through a 2nd Chance at life. We will use more funds towards our signage campaign to bring awareness to organ and tissue donation. Show your support and join us May 9th.

 Forms & Information to Download


Further Information


If you have any questions please contact one of our committee members:

Lloydminster Area: Gary Hefner (780) 871-8892

Fort Saskatchewan Area: Harvey Nelson (780) 992-0684 or (780) 903-0502

Elk Point Area: Morris Irvine (780) 724-4027 or (780) 614-3554

St. Paul Area: Tom Matthews (780) 614-5955

Bonnyville Area: Ed Cadieux (780) 812-2355 or Donna Cadieux (780) 826-1165

To purchase supper tickets in advance please contact: Cathy Ockerman: 780-724-250

If you would like to donate to our Silent or Live Auction please contact: Lori Nelson: 780-724-2972

You can also contact us by email: secondchancetrailride@hotmail.com

Monday, September 22, 2014

2014 GoodHearts AGM – Recap

GoodHearts members gathered for the 2014 AGM
Our 2014 GoodHearts AGM was held on Saturday, September 20 at the Varscona Hotel on Whyte Avenue. Thanks to all the GoodHearts members, directors and the 2nd Chance Trial Ride members who were able to join us for the lunch meeting and presentation.

At the meeting our new Board of Directors was elected and introduced to the members.  The board is comprised of returning members Jackie, Jenn, Maggie, Barb, Melanie, Shereen and Josh, along with new member Ed.

Our president, Jackie Foord, chaired the meeting and presented her Annual Report, which highlighted what GoodHearts has been up to in the past year, including a summary of our Transplant Housing and other programs. Some highlights include the following:
  • Our members' dinner was held in October of last year.  It was a chance to connect with our members, enjoy each other’s company and share a meal.
     
  • $15,500 in food and gas cards have been given to transplant patients through the transplant social workers — a 40 per cent increase over the previous 12-month period.
     
  • 32 new members have signed up through the MedicAlert program — that is more than half the current paid membership.
     
  • In September we welcomed guests into our 4th furnished suite at the Galen Lofts. The 3 suites were always booked. The fourth is too. We don’t know how extensive the demand actually is and know that we aren’t likely to raise enough money to meet it, but 4 seems to be a good number. The cost to GoodHearts is $8,425 per month. If they are full every day our revenue is $3,600. That means every month we subsidize the apartments to the tune of $4,825/month or $57,900 a year. We rely on community donations and casinos to ensure we can keep that level of service.  
Members of the 2nd Chance Trail Ride
presenting the GoodHearts with their gift
Jackie also mentioned our special thanks to the following groups:
  •  Westcorp, who without we really couldn’t provide the level of service to our guests at the Galen Lofts. They help with move in and move outs and do all the cleaning. They accommodate us to the point where we can move in new guests with about a 48 hour notice. Over the past year, the apartments have been empty less than a week total – that includes both apartments.
     
  •  2nd Chance Trail Ride, for their hard work and dedication in planning the annual trail ride, and their donation of $30,000.00 to our group.
5+ years recipients of the "transplant star"
Silvio Dobri handed out commemorative star key chains to our all the transplant recipients at the AGM, celebrating the following milestones:
  • 5+ years - Rick Kelly, Tom Matthews, Ed Matwichuk, Patricia Kaliciak and Dean Leipnitz;
  • 10+ years - Nancy Manning, Leo Goebel, Denis Gahan, Suresh Avasthi, Sheila Hambrook, Keith Bradley and Jenn Card;
  • 15+ years - Silvio Dobri, Roland Ledoux and Brian Carter;
  • 20+ years - Kevin Lyver; and
  • 25+ years - Dwight Kroening.
Please see our Facebook photo album for pictures of all the recipients.

Finally, the GoodHearts was very fortunate to welcome Dr. Lori West from the Alberta Transplant Institute to our meeting, where she presented on her organization's mission and answered members' questioned regarding organ & tissue transplant issues within Alberta and Canada.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Third Annual 2nd Chance Trail Ride

If you'd like to donate to the 2nd Chance Trail Ride click the Donate Now! button. When you are filling out the donation form, choose > Your Donation Will Support: 2nd Chance Trail Ride.

The following information is provided by the GoodHearts Transplant Foundation on behalf of the Third Annual 2nd Chance Trail Ride:

Bring your horses and join us on our Trail Ride to promote Organ Donation Awareness while enjoying the beautiful Scenery of the North Saskatchewan River along the Historic Iron Horse Trail from Lindbergh to Heinsburg.

Event Information

Ride day – Saturday May 10th, 2014
Location – Lindbergh to Heinsburg
on the Iron Horse Trail
$30 per rider -or- horse & wagon (You must bring your own horse and wagon)

Pre-Registration & Camping

Early Registration is available on May 9, 2014 from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM in Heinsburg at the end point of the of the Trail Ride. There is overnight camping available here, at the Heinsburg Water Tower. There are no water or power hook ups. There is a cost of $10 a night. Cheques can be made out to Heinsburg Community Club. There are also numerous lakes and campgrounds in the area.

The 2nd Chance Trail Ride crew at last year's ride

Trailer Transportation

We will have transportation available from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM from Heinsburg to Lindbergh so your truck will be in Heinsburg at the end of the trail ride. There will be hitching posts to tie your horses to while you move your trailer to Heinsburg.

Morning Registration

There will be coffee and muffins available during registration. First 200 Registered participants will receive a 2nd Chance Trail Ride keepsake! We will need a participant form filled out by each individual partaking in the ride, wagon drivers, riders and all!

Schedule

8:30am – 10am  Registration in Lindbergh at the hitching station.
11:00am  Ride begins. Lunch will be provided at Middle Creek.
5:30pm  Supper. Tickets can be purchased in advance. Only 400 available.
Dance, Auction and live band to follow.

Supper

$15/Adult for supper
$10/Child for supper
Silent and live auctions
Live country music


Donation to GoodHearts at the 2013 AGM
Collect your money and record your pledges on the enclosed pledge form. Cheques should be written to GoodHearts Foundation if an official tax receipt is required.  When you arrive on May 10th please have your donations collected and your pledge sheet balanced.  We recommend you make a photocopy of your pledges for future reference or if there are any problems. You are encouraged to have your sponsorship in cheque payments to minimize work and reduce the chance of theft. Please fill out a separate registration form for each rider including children.  This way we can keep track of all riders. A “Participant Waiver” must be signed for each rider.  Registration forms and waiver forms will be available at Ride Registration on site.

This year our funds will be donated to Good Hearts Foundation and to deserving members of the community who are going through the transplant process.

About the 2nd Chance Trail Ride

click poster to enlarge
Our organization was founded three years ago after Morris Irvine received a double lung transplant. He along with his fellow organ recipients wanted to give back, and raise organ donation awareness so others could have a Second Chance.

The first annual 2nd Chance Trail ride was a huge success we raised $25,000 for the Canadian Transplant Games

Our second trail ride raised $55,000 that we donated to the Good Hearts Foundation. With this donation they were able to open a third apartment in Galen Lofts for recipients to live after their surgeries and during recovery.


 Forms & Information to Download

click brochure to enlarge

 

Further Information


If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact one of our committee members: Morris Irvine: 780-724-4027 or Arla Pirtle: 587-983-745

To purchase supper tickets in advance please contact: Cathy Ockerman: 780-724-250

If you would like to donate to our Silent or Live Auction please contact: Lori Nelson: 780-724-2972

You can also contact us by email: secondchancetrailride@hotmail.com

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Media Coverage of the GoodHearts

When the 2nd Chance Trail Ride presented the GoodHearts with a extremely generous $55,000.00 donation at our recent AGM, the local media was there to cover the story.

Maggie Baczynski, GoodHearts vice-president, Terry MacElwain, a double lung transplant recipient from Calgary, and his wife Leslie were interviewed for the stories.