By: Matt Weingarden, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter
On Christmas Eve 2018 Megan Patrick of Stoney Point was diagnosed with Leukemia and had to celebrate Christmas in the hospital with no special Santa pajamas. After Megan was healthy her family started a pajama drive for both Windsor and London hospital to ensure all of the kids on Christmas Eve had some Santa pajamas.
In April 2022, Megan was diagnosed with Leukemia for the second time. Unfortunately, with her condition the pajama campaign was put on a hiatus in 2022. In 2023, Megan’s friend Lauren Meadows stepped in by kicking off the campaign with an announcement that in lieu of birthday gifts she would be asking friends and family to donate pajamas for the kids in the hospital.
Following that announcement on social media, monetary donations rose to $500 in just two days Lauren and developed an epic partnership with Windsors’ own MD Motivator who donated over 100 pairs of pajamas during a shopping spree at a local Wal-Mart followed by a special visit to Megan at her home while she continued chemotherapy and made Megan an internet star overnight.
In 2023, the crew donated over 500 pairs of pajamas for the kids Windsor Regional Hospital Pediatric Floor, the Ronald McDonald House in London and Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto, Erie Shores Health Care, Little Hands for a Cause and the Fight Like Mason Foundation.
This year they hope to match that, or even bigger and they will support other hospitals in Ontario if they smash their goal. If you would like to donate today you can e-transfer jm.patrick@hotmail.ca or call for pick up or a drop off location. Donations will be accepted until December 10th.
