BMO Vancouver Marathon: Nanay is running for daughter

Updated: May 1, 2023, 10:23 AM

Vancouver, B.C.

Canuck Place mom Aubrey Delima runs for daughter Lauren

Contributed by Nathalie Green

May is Canada’s Asian Heritage Month, a time to celebrate and recognize the contributions of the Asian community in Canada. In honour of this month, we are highlighting Aubrey Delima, a Canuck Place mom who is using her passion for running to raise funds for Canuck Place Children’s Hospice.

“It was the story of Terry Fox that got me started running. The inspiration to keep running was to run for a cause,” Aubrey says.  Her daughter Lauren was diagnosed in-utero with Propionic Acidemia, a rare metabolic disorder, whereby those affected are not expected to live past the age of 3. This was a difficult time for the family, as they knew Lauren’s care would not be easy. Lauren was also diagnosed with additional complexities; cardiomyopathy, a heart condition, and autism. While Lauren and her family were at BC Children’s Hospital, they were introduced to Canuck Place.

Canuck Place is B.C. and the Yukon’s only pediatric palliative care provider, caring for more than 830 children with life-threatening illnesses and the families who love them. Their specialized care team operates two hospices in Vancouver and Abbotsford, as well as outpatient care for families in-hospital and at home. Canuck Place services include medical respite and family support, pain and symptom management, a provincial 24-Hour Clinical Care Line, music and recreation therapy, education and art, grief and bereavement counselling, and end-of-life care. All at no cost to families.

At Canuck Place, the Delima’s found the support they needed during Lauren’s end-of-life journey. They stayed in one of the family suites at the Vancouver hospice; received pain and symptom management for Lauren; ate nourishing, home-cooked meals provided by the kitchen; and had volunteers take care of their other children, giving Aubrey and her husband, Greg time to focus on being with Lauren.

“Canuck Place was Lauren’s final home. We went in as a family of six. We didn’t realize at the time that we would leave as a family of five,” Aubrey shares.
After Lauren passed away, Aubrey decided to use her passion for running to raise funds for Canuck Place. She started running in 2012 to take care of herself, but soon realized that running could also be a way to fundraise. 2019 marked the ninth anniversary of Lauren’s passing, so Aubrey hosted nine events to fundraise for Canuck Place.

“Here we are, 12 years later and still fundraising,” explains Aubrey.

Inspired by Lauren’s short life and their journey with Canuck Place, Aubrey has found a way to give back and support others in need. This year, she is running in the BMO Vancouver Marathon as part of Charlie’s Angels Joy Runners, a group that is fundraising for Canuck Place. She hopes to double last year’s fundraising efforts to help support other Canuck Place families.

Canuck Place child, Charlie-Anne Cox, was Aubrey’s inspiration to participate in the BMO Vancouver Marathon. Charlie-Anne is rolling 21km alongside her family, while Aubrey is running the full marathon in support of Canuck Place. Charlie-Anne is 13 years old and has Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) type 1. SMA is a genetic condition that causes muscle weakness and atrophy and affects a child’s ability to crawl, walk, sit up, and control their own head movements. It also causes severe damage to the muscles used for breathing and swallowing. Charlie-Anne has been on the Canuck Place program since she was nine months old. This year, Aubrey, Charlie-Anne, and her family have set out to reach a fundraising goal of $40,000!

“Charlie-Anne is my biggest inspiration for running in the BMO Vancouver full marathon this year,” Aubrey reflects. Aubrey’s family also has been a huge inspiration to her self-care and running journey. “Basketball is big in our family, and in a lot of Filipino families. My siblings, cousins and uncles play together when we have family gatherings.”

Aubrey has a huge family that supported her and her family through Lauren’s end-of-life journey. Their family and friends took turns bringing them food or giving them respite, and when Lauren died, their community became even closer.

Spirit of giving

The spirit of giving runs deep in Aubrey’s big family. Aubrey’s mother came to Canada from the Philippines in 1980 as a nanny/caregiver and left her young children with their father, so she could improve their living situation. Aubrey’s family immigrated to Vancouver in 1986 when Aubrey was 10 years old. Since then, her mother found ways to get the rest of her family members over to Vancouver. In 2017, the last of Aubrey’s mom’s family arrived in Vancouver. They have over 80 family members living in Vancouver, just on her mother’s side. Her dad’s side has another 40 plus people who emigrated over. When they have backyard parties or cheer Aubrey on during her marathons, hundreds of people show up and help her raise funds! Her mother, like Aubrey, was an inspiration and pathway for her family.
“Everybody experiences loss and bereavement differently, but my experience with Lauren’s death at Canuck Place was beautiful and blessed,” Aubrey says.
We honour Aubrey and all the other Filipinos in Canada who have made a difference in their communities. Let us continue to celebrate and recognize their contributions during May’s Asian Heritage Month, June’s Filipino-Canadian Heritage Month and beyond! Donate to Canuck Place or join Charlie’s Angels Joy Runners, and help Aubrey’s team Charlie’s Angels Joy Runners reach her goal!

The BMO Run, the largest in Canada is happening this Sunday, May 7, 2023.