Brant Community Healthcare System (BCHS) Foundation hosted a pop-up event at the Brantford Public Library’s main branch to help spread the word about the seventh annual Read4BCHS fundraiser, on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
At the event, Haidee Scheers, Special Events Development Coordinator for the BCHS Foundation, was joined by local authors Diane Henrique and Susanne Dobbin.
An author and elementary school teacher, Henrique read her debut children’s book, “Grade One is No Fun” to a host of youngsters and their parents.
The story follows a young girl named Henny D who is excited to start Grade 1 but finds that sitting still, following rules and the long school days aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. Along the way, Henny D discovers that by using her imagination and creativity, she can overcome her obstacles and turn her days from glum to fun.
As part of this year’s Read4BCHS, the foundation has teamed up with Henrique to have the book displayed along the windows of the pediatric hall.
“Literacy within the pediatric department is so important, and we want to make sure that even if you are receiving care within the hospital, you have the opportunity to read and learn,” she said. “So once Read4BCHS commences, we’re going to have Diane’s book on display on the windows down the pediatric hallway just to showcase the importance of literacy locally, not only within our schools and classrooms, but also within the healthcare system.”
During the second half of the event, Dobbin got to share a short excerpt of her book, titled “Raising the Dead.”
The Brantford-based author’s book questions whether it’s ethical to use AI and nanotechnology to enhance a healthy person, addressing the use of technology, morality, and the challenges of living in the end-times.
In 2024 Dobbin won the New Canadian Manuscript Contest, awarded by The Word Guild, for the thriller novel.
In between the readings, the authors had the opportunity to chat with local community members about their books and the joy of literary adventures, while Scheers raised awareness about the Read4BCHS event.
The annual readathon fundraiser is community-wide event that is designed to support young patients receiving pediatric and infant care at the Brantford General Hospital (BGH), which serves families from Brantford, the County of Brant, Six Nations of the Grand River, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Haldimand County, Norfolk County, and surrounding areas.
“As our community continues to grow, as do the needs within the pediatric department at BCHS,” said Scheers.” When it comes to events like these, the foundation is hoping to bridge that gap and work with the Brant Community Health Care System to purchase the specialized equipment needed within that department. We recently hosted our Wicked High Tea in November in support of the NICU, and similar to the NICU, the pediatric department also requires specialized equipment for local community members.”
As far as how it works, Scheers said that people first need to sign up by emailing her at haidee.scheers@bchsys.org
Participants will then be provided with a five-digit code, and a step-by-step tutorial on how to create their Reading Raiser individual or team profile. From there, readers of all ages will be able to read, raise, record and get rewarded.
“Come next Tuesday, February 3, participants will be able to access the reading raiser dashboard where they can log in online or through the app, and log how many minutes they’ve spent reading and how many many books they’ve read,” said Scheers. “I’ll be monitoring the progress, so I’ll be able to see how much people are reading and how much they are fundraising within the platform, and that will allow them to earn badges. Those badges will then be put into a draw every week for a chance to earn a prize. This year, we have some exciting prizes in the works; for example we have a Booster Juice gift basket valued at about $200 for week one, a Brantford Bulldogs gift basket for the second week, and then our third prize will be a book lovers gift basket.”
There will also be grand prizes for the top individual fundraiser (a Nintendo Switch Sports Package Console, valued at $420), the top group or team fundraiser ( Pizza Party plus a $150 Amazon Gift card, and a visit from a BCHS Pediatrician), and the reading champion (Kindle Coloursoft Touchscreen Reader, valued at $265).
The number of ballots/badges you receive is based on the minutes you’ve spent reading, the total number of books you’ve completed, and the amount of money you’ve raised.
As far as who can participate, the BCHS Foundation is encouraging everyone; individual readers, families, groups, classes from both local school boards, and retirement communities too.
Scheers went on to say that the foundation has already raised $125,000 through the Read4BCHS event, and that this year, the goal is to generate another $25,000. Proceeds raised through Read4BCHS will ultimately benefit the hospital’s youngest patients through following services:
- Impatient Unit: An eight bed impatient pediatric unit with nine consultant pediatricians who work to provide 24/7 care to over 1,000 patients annually.
- Emergency Department (ED) and Pediatric Quick Care program: The hospital’s ED treats approximately 8,000 pediatric patients annually. The Pediatric Quick Care Program assesses children that may need admission and minimizes time spent in the ED.
- The PARS Clinic and Bilirubin Clinic: The Pediatric Acute Referral Service (PARS) clinic sees children requiring urgent consultation with over 1,500 visits annually. The Bilirubin Clinic is also in the PARS clinic and provides jaundice treatment over 1,300 times a year.
- Pediatric Diabetes Outpatient Clinic: Provides on-going support to children and adolescents with diabetes, as well as their families. The clinic focuses on a multidisciplinary approach, consisting of a team of doctors, nurses, dieticians and social workers.
- Additional Services: The pediatric unit at the BGH offers pediatric outpatient mental health services with different levels of care provided depending on the individual’s needs. The department also provides tonsillectomy surgery.
- Cuddler Program: Both the pediatric and neonatal intensive care (NICU) units recruit volunteers to help provide comfort, care and connection to infants.
Overall, Scheers said she hopes this year’s Read4BCHS will get everyone in the reading spirit and challenge them to make a difference in their community.
“When it’s this cold outside, it’s great to just sit back, enjoy a good book and also support a worthwhile cause,” she said. “Whether you’re sharing it on social media, or just logging your stats and collecting pledges yourself, every dollar counts, and this is a fun way to do it.”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
