What began as a conversation between two girls in the family car has sparked the growth of creative arts programs at the Donald and Elaine Rafelman Creative Arts Studio at Baycrest.
While heading to visit their grandmother, Fern Mednick, a resident at the Apotex Centre, Jewish Home for the Aged, nine-year-old Rachel Mednick told her five-year-old sister Amy that she wanted to raise funds to help their Bubbie do more arts and crafts with them over the weekend.
“I wanted to raise $50 or $100. Our Bubbie has always loved knitting, needlepoint and making crafts with our family,” says Rachel. “Since coming to Baycrest, she has made ceramic bowls, bracelets and water colour paintings at the art studio during the week, but we wanted to help her and other Bubbies and Zaides do more arts and crafts over the weekend with their families when they come to visit.”
With the help of her mother and father, Jessica Leinwand and Avi Mednick, Rachel decided to host a swim relay called “Swim for Bubbie” in June 2017 with her family and friends at a local pool. Together, they hoped to swim a collective total of 10 km while raising funds for Baycrest.
In total, more than 100 friends and family members came to the North Thornhill Community Centre to swim, cheer and support the effort. In total, the group swam more than 16 km and raised an incredible $9,200 for the creative arts programs at Baycrest.
Visits with my mom have become much more meaningful.
“Through the art programs at Baycrest, our visits with my mom have become much more meaningful and memorable for our entire family,” says Avi. “This donation will make a direct impact in the art studio and help families enrich their time with their loved ones at Baycrest.”
To support Rachel’s “Swim for Bubbie,” please visit her fundraising page by clicking here.