Supporting Survivors
Donations at work
Each year, more than 1,000 children and adults are treated for burn injuries in British Columbia. The Burn Fund enhances their care through generous donations to BC’s outstanding burn care providers, funding necessary burn garments for survivors and fulfilling vital medical equipment needs.
Purposeful Partnerships
Enhancing burn survivor care
The Burn Fund was originally founded to enhance burn survivor care through the purchase of vital equipment at BC’s trauma hospitals. While visiting survivors at VGH, Captain Alex Blake of Coquitlam Fire Fighters Local 1782 met Dr. Charles Snelling, who was the Director of the Burn Unit. From that meeting, fire fighters came up with the idea to raise funds for the burn unit with an initial contribution of $10,000.
The “Burn Unit Fire Fighters Fund” was created to improve public education and improve treatment for burn survivors. It funded a burn patient follow-up program, education of Burn Unit nursing staff, and research around new methods of burn care. This fund was the basis for the establishment of the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund by the BC Professional Fire Fighters Association in 1978. To this day, Burn Collaborative working groups have been established at BC Children’s and Vancouver General Hospital to work together on shared activities that promote a better quality of life for burn survivors and their families.
Historic Gifts
Throughout the years
The Burn Fund has made significant investments in research for wound healing care, education and training of burn healthcare professionals, hospital infrastructure and vital medical equipment, burn garments and other patient support.
Our support for BC’s trauma hospitals exceeds $5 million since the Burn Fund was founded in 1978. The BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burns, Trauma, and High Acuity Unit (BTHAU) at Vancouver General Hospital were officially established in 1997 and in 2022 the Burn Fund pledged $1 million to BC Children’s Hospital to support specialized care for young patients with burn injuries in BC. The newly named BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Care Suite will be upgraded and enhanced to better meet patient needs, creating a purposeful environment that promotes healing and recovery.
Transforming Burn Care at BC Children’s Hospital
Learn more about our historic gift to BC Children’s Hospital to support burn survivors like Keira McKenzie.
Ways to Give
Give once or give often, there are many ways to support our impactful programs.
Learn More