For 2024-2025, our Helen Stock Legacy Bursary continues to offer $5,000 to qualified recipients, supporting them in their post-secondary journeys. Childhood cancer impacts not just the present, but also the future, creating long-lasting financial challenges for families even after treatment ends. This bursary from Helping Families Handle Cancer is our way of helping recipients achieve their goals and improve their financial stability moving forward.
We’re excited to announce this year’s recipients! Congratulations to our parent bursary winners: Lola Eboru, Susan Haggas. Congratulations to our two sibling bursaries: Alexander Sharpe and Matthias Preusser.
Parent Bursaries
Photography Donated by: Substance
Lola Eboru | Ambrose University
Lola Eboru is a two-time recipient of the Helen Stock Legacy Bursary. Lola’s journey has been defined by resilience, compassion, and a strong commitment to supporting others during their most challenging moments.
In 2019, Lola faced an unimaginable tragedy when she lost her first child to a brain tumor while residing in Nigeria. In 2020, Lola and her husband made the decision to immigrate to Canada, seeking to rebuild their lives. During this time, their surviving child was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, requiring full-time care. Lola and her husband faced the devastating impact of childhood cancer again in October 2022, when their second son, Jaden, was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
Lola’s experiences have allowed her to find strength and inspiration in the face of adversity. She has a firsthand understanding of the complexities of grief and the need for compassionate support during times of crisis. She has dedicated her life’s work to helping people navigate traumatic events, currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Leadership and Ministry, with a focus on Psychospiritual Care.
Photography Donated by: Substance
Susan Haggas | Burman University
Susan Haggas is a first-time recipient of the Helen Stock Legacy Bursary. Susan is a lifelong learner, completing her first Bachelor’s Degree in Science in 2002, and a Certificate in Criminology. Shortly thereafter, Susan and her now-husband moved from Newfoundland to Central Alberta to pursue their careers and start a family, with Susan finding work with the Child and Family Services Authority.
In early 2020, Susan’s five-year old daughter, Meghan, was diagnosed with High-Risk Leukemia. They had a long road ahead of them, with two and a half years of treatment during a global pandemic, driving back and forth from their home in Red Deer to the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary for treatment. In the spring of 2022, as Meghan’s treatment wrapped up, Susan began exploring new and different employment opportunities.
Susan took her experience running a day home and homeschooling her children during Meghan’s treatment and found work as an Educational Assistant and Librarian at her children’s school. With the encouragement from her family, Susan is now pursuing the Bachelor of Education program at Burman University, with plans to become a classroom teacher and eventually a school counsellor.
Sibling Bursaries
Photography Donated by: Substance
Alexander Sharpe | University of Alberta
Alexander is a first-time recipient of the Helen Stock Legacy Bursary. Alexander’s brother, Caleb, passed away from a rare stomach cancer in December 2022. Initially thought to be pneumonia, Caleb’s illness rapidly worsened, leading to his admission to the Alberta Children’s Hospital and a devastating diagnosis of stage four gastric cancer. Despite undergoing intensive chemotherapy treatments throughout the summer and fall, Caleb’s health declined rapidly, and he passed away in December, shortly after his 18th birthday. While grappling with grief, Alex returned to university in January 2023. He continued to study through the emotional turmoil of losing Caleb and remained steadfast with his dedication to the adapted sports programs at the Steadward Centre.
In addition to pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce, Alex reflects on overcoming personal challenges, including his own disability from Cerebral Palsy. His involvement with the Steadward Bears para swim team as a coach and his past experiences as a competitive swimmer underscore his commitment. Despite the profound loss of Caleb, Alex remains dedicated to his studies and community involvement, drawing strength from sports and advocating for disability inclusion. His journey is marked by tragedy and resilience, underscored by a deep commitment to making a positive impact despite personal adversity.
Photography Donated by: Substance
Matthias Preusser | University of Calgary
Matthias Preusser is a two-time recipient of the Helen Stock Legacy Bursary. Matthias is pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Calgary, with a specialization in mechatronics. Matthias’ passion for engineering is highlighted by his involved with the Schulich Off Road Baja SAE team and through his mentorship with FIRST Engineering Robotics. Beyond academics, Matthias’ journey is intertwined with his brother Evan’s battle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Detailing the financial strains and emotional toll on his family during Evan’s treatments and recovery, Matthias reflects on the challenging balance between pursuing his own educational goals and supporting his brother’s health journey.
Despite these hardships, Matthias remains resolute in his commitment to engineering, particularly in developing medical technologies aimed at enhancing patient comfort and care—a passion ignited by Evan’s experiences. Through self-funding, Matthias has begun preliminary market and technical research for developing a mapping system for catheter insertion. The goal of this system would be to improve the quality of life of patients by minimizing discomfort due to failed IV insertion. His journey underscores resilience, empathy, and a profound dedication to making a positive impact through his academic pursuits and future career aspirations in engineering.