Mitchell’s Claire Nicholson makes Grinch ornaments for Childcan fundraiser

Claire Nicholson (right), with her brother Clayton, loves to make crafts. She’s been making ornaments since 2023 to raise money for Childcan.

Six-year-old Claire Nicholson of Mitchell, a three-time cancer survivor, is once again making ornaments to raise money for Childcan.

The Grinch ornaments are $3 each and proceeds from the sales will support Childcan, which provides support services for families dealing with childhood cancer. Mother Mandy Nicholson said the ornament fundraiser began in 2023 when Claire, who loves to craft, made a snowman Christmas ornament from a crafting kit. Mandy posted a photo of Claire with the ornament, as part of the daily updates done since her daughter’s cancer diagnosis in 2020, and some were interested in purchasing them.

Mandy’s personal Facebook page posting updates on Claire and the family has a large following, including in Stratford, where members of community groups can often see her posting.

In 2023, just over $3,000 from the sale of 1,500 snowmen ornaments was raised and in 2024, the sale of 600 ornaments raised about $1,200 for Childcan. This year, about 2,000 Grinch ornaments were made for the fundraiser.

"We spent the whole year working on them in preparation because Grinch is quite popular and we thought they might go over well,” Mandy said.

Through Claire’s cancer journey, Mandy and the rest of the family know first-hand how Childcan supports families experiencing childhood cancer through programs for the whole family, including the sibling programs. Childcan also helps families during urgent and unpredictable situations.

“Having them was such a blessing to us and it took so much stress and worry out of the day-to-day of 'Okay, how are we going to pay for parking? How are we going to eat while we're in the hospital with Claire?’” she said.

The Nicholsons do a lot of fundraising through the year, including the Childcan Pajama Walk every September in Mitchell, for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. They also plan to continue making holiday ornaments to fundraise for Childcan year after year.

Ornament orders can be made online via Facebook by contacting Mandy Leann Nicholson.