Helping Families Handle Cancer is grateful to continue offering the Helen Stock Legacy Bursary for the 5th year. A $5,000 bursary is awarded to qualified recipients to support their pursuit of post-secondary education. When a child has cancer, the financial challenges that a family experiences can last far beyond the length of treatment, and affects every member of the family. We desire to carry on Helen’s beautiful legacy by supporting cancer parents and siblings so that they can pursue their goals.
We are very pleased to announce this year’s recipients! Congratulations to our parent bursary winners, Jaami Olayemi Lawal and Robert Gamble, as well as our sibling bursary winners, Kayah Mohamedali and Naveed Khan.
Parent Bursaries
Photography Donated by: Substance
Jaami Olayemi Lawal | Royal Canadian Business College
Jaami’s journey has been shaped by profound loss, personal challenges, and a deep commitment to creating a stable future for his family. In March 2022, their daughter, Jumaymah, was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, beginning a long and difficult period filled with fighting cancer and uncertainty. Throughout her fight, Jaami remained a constant source of support while balancing the emotional toll on their family and managing personal physical limitations that added further complexity to daily life. Despite moments of hope and strength, Jumaymah passed away in September 2024, leaving behind a legacy of courage and love that continues to inspire her family every day.
Before moving to Canada, Jaami earned a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and a Master’s degree in Environmental Design from the University of Lagos in Nigeria. His academic and professional journey later led him into a career with an accounting organization here in Canada as an auditor, where he developed strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Motivated by a desire to continue growing professionally and provide greater stability for his family, Jaami is now pursuing Business Administration at Royal Canadian Business College. This next step represents not only career advancement, but also an opportunity to build a stronger foundation for the future.
The experiences of grief, caregiving, financial pressure, and personal hardship have shaped Jaami’s perspective and strengthened his determination to continue moving forward. He remains committed to honoring Jumaymah’s memory through personal growth, education, and creating opportunities for his family. Receiving this bursary would help ease the financial burden of returning to school, while allowing him to focus on his studies and future goals. For Jaami, this opportunity represents encouragement, hope, and the chance to continue building a future defined by strength, purpose, and compassion.
Photography Donated by: Substance
Rob Gamble | University of Prince Edward Island
Rob has dedicated more than 23 years to education, working as a middle school teacher, physical education specialist, athletic director, and learning support teacher. In August 2021, Rob, with his wife Lindsay, faced a life-changing challenge when their daughter, Lauren, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma just weeks before her fourteenth birthday. What followed was an intensive and ongoing journey of chemotherapy, surgeries, radiation treatments, and lengthy hospital stays, profoundly impacting every aspect of family life.
As Lauren’s treatment progressed, Lindsay stepped away from her role as a school principal to care for her full-time, significantly affecting the family’s financial stability. Reality set in and Lauren’s illness took a large emotional toll on their family, leaving his wife Lindsay needing to take a step away from work to take care of her own emotional health. Despite everything the family was going through, Rob continued supporting his family while remaining committed to his students and professional growth. Inspired by his passion for education and leadership, he resumed pursuing a Master of Education at the University of Prince Edward Island, a long-standing career goal that had been placed on hold following Lauren’s diagnosis.
The support Rob received through the Helen Stock Legacy Bursary will allow him to continue his studies without placing additional financial strain on his family during an incredibly difficult time. His goal is to become a school-based administrator and eventually pursue broader leadership opportunities within education, helping create supportive environments for students and families facing adversity. Rob remains deeply grateful for the support his family has received and is committed to using his experience, compassion, and dedication to positively impact the lives of others through education and leadership.
It is with great sadness that we note, following the printing of these biographies, that Lauren has since passed away after her courageous journey with cancer. Our hearts go out to Rob and his family.
Sibling Bursaries
Photography Donated by: Substance
Kayah Mohamedali | University of Calgary
Currently in her third year of Chemistry at the University of Calgary, Kayah’s life was deeply impacted when her younger brother, Kasser, was diagnosed with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in April 2024, at just 14 years old. Coming from a close-knit family, the diagnosis brought immense emotional strain as they navigated the uncertainty and demands of childhood cancer treatment together. Throughout Kasser’s ongoing journey, Kayah has remained a constant source of support, balancing the responsibilities of university coursework, laboratory studies, and a part-time serving job while attending chemotherapy appointments, hospital stays, and medical procedures alongside her brother.
Witnessing Kasser’s strength throughout treatment and seeing the compassion shown by healthcare workers profoundly shaped Kayah’s perspective and future goals. Spending significant time at the Alberta Children’s Hospital introduced her to the impact medical professionals can have on patients and families during difficult moments. Inspired by these experiences, Kayah discovered a passion for diagnostic imaging and plans to continue her education at SAIT after completing her chemistry degree to pursue a career as a sonographer. Her interest in the field became especially meaningful after seeing firsthand how ultrasound technology played an important role in identifying complications during Kasser’s treatment.
Despite the emotional and financial pressures her family has faced, Kayah remains deeply committed to her education and future career in healthcare. Her experiences alongside Kasser throughout his treatment have strengthened her desire to support others facing difficult medical journeys. Kayah hopes to combine her passion for science and patient care as a future sonographer, helping provide comfort, understanding, and critical care to children and families navigating illness. She is dedicated to building a future where she can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Photography Donated by: Substance
Naveed Khan | University of Calgary
Naveed is a four-time returning applicant for the Helen Stock Legacy Bursary showing to never give up on your goals. Over the past several years, he has come to understand the importance of directing his goals toward meaningful impact rather than simply achievement alone. In July 2025, Naveed’s perspective shifted dramatically when his brother’s leukemia relapsed. Watching his brother face uncertainty with quiet courage forced Naveed to reconsider what actually matters and inspired him to approach both life and his future with greater intention and reflection.
That change in perspective deepened through Naveed’s involvement with Helping Families Handle Cancer, since we were able to support his family during his brother’s cancer treatment. While volunteering at an HFHC event, he was moved by the sense of community created by families and individuals giving back after receiving support themselves. A simple interaction with one of our cancer kiddos while volunteering, Rhett reminded him that meaningful impact often begins in small moments. These experiences strengthened Naveed’s commitment to building a future rooted in human connection and empathy
Naveed has pursued opportunities in the technology industry, challenging himself through hackathons, internships, and bold career ambitions. As he approaches his final year of studies while managing student debt, Naveed remains focused. He hopes to build a career that not only supports innovation, but also creates opportunities, community, and meaningful change for others navigating adversity.