We are proud to share that our Helen Stock Legacy Bursary continues to offer $5,000 to qualified recipients in order to support them in pursuing post-secondary education. Childhood cancer impacts not just the present but also the future, creating long-lasting financial challenges for families even after treatment ends. Its effects are felt by every member of the family. This bursary from Helping Families Handle Cancer is our way of helping cancer parents and siblings 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, Kristin Johnson and Robert Gamble, as well as our two sibling bursary winners, Aya Jabawi and Natalia Stamile.
Parent Bursaries
Photography Donated by: Substance
Kristin Johnson | Lethbridge Polytechnic
Kristin Johnson is a second-time applicant for the Helping Families Handle Cancer Helen Stock Bursary. Kristin’s journey has been shaped by resilience and perseverance, overcoming significant personal and family challenges while raising four children and returning to school. In 2018, she suffered a life changing stroke. Through the support of a brain injury clinic, she slowly regained her strength and confidence, taking small steps towards rebuilding her life.
In June 2023, Kristin’s family faced another devastating challenge when her youngest son, Rhett, was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma at only four years old. The emotional and financial strain of hospital visits, treatment, and recovery placed immense pressure on the family – a pressure that Kristin and her family still work on recovering from.
Dedicated to transforming her journey of resilience into a meaningful career, Kristin pursued the Educational Assistant program at Lethbridge Polytechnic with the goal of supporting children who face their own struggles. She successfully completed her studies in August 2025. She hopes to create a safe and encouraging environment in the classroom and has recently started a full time position at Glenmore Christian Academy as an EA with Grade 7 students.
Photography Donated by: Substance
Robert Gamble | University of Prince Edward Island
Robert is a first-time applicant for the Helping Families Handle Cancer Helen Stock Bursary. As the first in his family to complete a university degree, he broke new ground by earning both an Honours in Physical and Health Education and a Bachelor of Education. For over 20 years, Robert has worked with children from diverse backgrounds, guided by a deep belief in the transformative power of learning and the role education plays in opening new possibilities for students and families.
In August 2021, Robert’s daughter was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a moment that reshaped every aspect of their life. The years that followed brought multiple surgeries, chemotherapy treatments, and relapses, requiring Robert to take repeated leaves from work to provide care. Due to the absence of extended family nearby, he balanced caregiving, parenting, and employment with the support and partnership of his wife. Though the financial and emotional strain has been significant, these experiences have also deepened his empathy, sharpened his sense of purpose, and strengthened his commitment to supporting others through education.
Motivated by what his daughter has experienced in school, Robert is now pursuing a Master of Education to help create an inclusive and flexible learning environment for medically fragile students. He has seen how much difference the right supports can make and is determined to ensure that children facing extraordinary challenges are not left behind. This next step represents both a continuation of his professional journey and a personal mission: to bring understanding, care, and meaningful change to students and families navigating difficult circumstances.
Sibling Bursaries
Photography Donated by: Substance
Aya Jabawi | University of Alberta
Aya Jabawi is a second-time applicant for the Helping Families Handle Cancer Helen Stock Bursary. Her journey has been shaped by challenges that defined her sense of purpose and determination. Arriving in Canada as a Syrian refugee in 2017, Aya faced the uncertainty of a new culture and language. Through dedication, she quickly adapted, excelling in school and earning recognition for her integrity and hard work.
In 2018, Aya’s life was transformed once more when her baby brother, Ahmad, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of childhood cancer. While her parents remained by his side during treatment, Aya took on the role of caring for her younger siblings while keeping up with her studies. Ahmad’s passing in 2019 left a deep impact on her, inspiring her to pursue a future in medicine.
Aya’s family’s experience with childhood cancer continues to shape her goals, motivating her to build a career that blends scientific knowledge with compassion. Aya is a full-time student at the University of Alberta, studying Nutrition and Food Science as a pathway to medical school. Passionate about human health, nutrition, and disease prevention, she is dedicated to helping families like her own who have faced the challenges of childhood cancer.
Photography Donated by: Substance
Natalia Stamile | University of Calgary
Natalia Stamile is a first-time applicant for the Helping Families Handle Cancer Helen Stock Bursary. Her family’s journey has played a significant role in shaping who she has become today. Natalia is an independent and realistic person who has developed from her responsibilities as an older sister.
In 2013, when her younger brother Luca was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, the impacts of watching her family endure the emotional and financial strain of cancer deeply impacted Natalia. She saw her parents stretched thin—her mother at the hospital caring for Luca, her father caring for Natalia and her youngest brother, and her grandparents stepping in to provide additional support.
Today, Natalia is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Calgary, with the goal of specializing in adolescent psychology and grief. Her passion stems from her own experiences of feeling misunderstood while navigating complex emotions as a teenager facing her brother’s illness. Natalia has already demonstrated perseverance in her academic journey, successfully gaining admission through the Equitable and Inclusive Admission Process.