Strength,
Courage and
Kindness
After being diagnosed with brain cancer, Mya
Slobodian dedicated herself to giving back
and helped SHCA raise $113,000 for Ronald
McDonald House
By Craig Slater, Martin Charlton Communications
Mya Slobodian has a special gift.
She’s a giver. Her genuine kindness, selflessness and generosity are easy
to see. She has carried these traits for years and has shared them with al-most
everyone she comes in contact with.
It seems unfair, then, that just days after her 13th birthday she was diagnosed with
brain cancer.
“I was shocked because I never thought it would happen to me,” Mya said of her diagnosis,
which came in September 2017.
News that would stop almost anyone in their tracks, Mya didn’t coil into a shell and shut
down. Instead, she opened her heart even wider.
In lieu of gifts for her birthday, Mya asked for a cash donation that she could turn around
and give to the Ronald McDonald House. Her gesture caught on and soon she had a relative
and a few of her friends following suit. A handful of local businesses joined the venture, too.
Before she knew it, Mya had spurred a group effort that raised $10,000, which was donated
to the Ronald McDonald House, an inviting place for families to stay while their child is un-der
medical care.
Mya has also shaved her head twice and donated her hair to Kids with Cancer Society to
make wigs.
“I just like making other people happy,” Mya said. “If I don’t need something then I might as
well give it to someone who would appreciate it more.
“It makes me feel happy when I see others happy.”
Mya didn’t know at the time, but she and her family would soon become familiar with the
Ronald McDonald House in Saskatoon.
Mya’s father, Craig Slobodian, is a longtime member of the Saskatchewan Heavy
Construction Association. He has been attending the Association’s annual convention for 19
years. Though this year’s event was a memorable one for him, his wife Tricia, their daughter
Blakeney and for Mya.
The Slobodian family had a front row seat to witness the outpouring of generosity from
SHCA members and contractors during the charity auction. This past year’s recipient of
funds raised was the Ronald McDonald House Charities Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SLOBODIAN FAMILY 20 Think BIG | Quarter 1 2019 | saskheavy.ca
/saskheavy.ca