By Angie Sullivan
Ashton from Keswick is one of twelve children featured in the 2026 calendar created by Ontario Parents Advocating for Children with Cancer (OPACC), a registered charity that supports families navigating a childhood cancer diagnosis.
Seven-year-old Ashton was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia in the spring of 2025 and after a challenging journey, this resilient local fishing enthusiast is now in remission.
His mother, Julie, said, “Ashton has been such a trooper through everything he’s faced. He has come a long way and has his own routine during procedures—he always asks for a count to 13, takes a deep breath, and holds my hand. I’ve been by his side every step of the way, and he gets through it all like a champ.”
Ashton and his mother met a representative from OPACC at SickKids hospital in Toronto and Julie said, “The program has been incredibly supportive and meaningful for our family during this time.”
The OPACC charity calendar helps support free programs and services for families of children with cancer in Ontario. In 2025, they had 230 new childhood cancer families join the organization, which now has 1,487 active members. The 2025 calendar netted $190 total profit and so far the 2026 calendar has raised $782 in sales leaving $295 in profit.
“We are a small, grassroots charity founded in 1995 by parents, for parents,” says Sarai Porretta, Administrator of OPACC. “All of our programs are free for families to access and include peer-to-peer support, hospital parking reimbursements, grocery gift cards, hospital meal vouchers, scholarships, community support groups, event tickets, and much more. We do not receive government or hospital funding and rely on grants and generous individuals and businesses in the community for our funding.”
Ashton is currently in the maintenance phase of his treatment and the experience has given him a new direction for his future career.
His mother shares, “Ashton wants to be a firefighter, but since he has been going to Southlake Cancer Centre, he now also wants to be a satellite nurse. He already knows the names of all his meds and treatments and assists the nurses at Southlake during appointments where he can.”
The OPACC charity calendar is available through the organization’s website at https://www.opacc.org/shop.
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