A Sarnia family is hoping residents will support a cause dear to their hearts during the 35th annual Miracle Treat Day at Dairy Queen.
Seven-year-old Lilah Taylor is about to enter Grade 3 next month and is one of the many children who have spent time at the Children's Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre.
"I was born at the children's hospital, and I lived there for a month, then I got all better," Lilah said.
Her father, Steven Taylor, said Lilah was born with gastroschisis, a condition where a baby's organs extend outside of their body.
"She was also a month premature so there were multiple complications," Taylor said. "We obviously used the hospital services up there for the entire month, and it was wonderful. Since then, we've always tried to do anything we can to raise awareness and help with donations."
On Thursday, August 14, 100 per cent of blizzard sales from participating locations in the region will go to the Children’s Health Foundation to support families at the Children’s Hospital in London.
Taylor said it's a "wonderful cause" since the hospital, and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), itself relies heavily on donor funds for equipment and services.
"The donations are going directly [toward] saving children's lives literally," he said. "So that's why it's so important to us."
According to the hospital's website, the NICU cares for 800 to 1,000 newborns each year.
Lilah said she plans to enjoy an Oreo blizzard during Miracle Treat Day.