The long-lasting memory of Amara Campbell has created a ripple effect that has touched the Swan Valley and created a movement to help fight cancer. The creation of Amara’s Amigos, a group of dedicated volunteers who help raise funds in the fight against cancer, was formed five years ago and has grown in many ways.
“The creation of the first Amara’s Amigos group was a very special symbol of support for Amara, Joel, Blair and me,” said Amara’s mother Lee-Anne Campbell. “Amara was a quiet, 13-year-old, who preferred not to have much attention on herself. Her cancer diagnosis took away her ability to blend in with the crowd.
“Our son Joel was 15 years old at the time. His sister’s cancer diagnosis was very tough on him as well. The shirts, events, and donations gave Amara a place to find comfort in her new identity. Also, a new type of identity for our family, I suppose. The love and support that continues to be shown for Amara’s Amigos is humbling and heart-warming for all of us.
“The Amara’s Amigos group, name and first shirts were created by Amara’s Minitonas school friends and teachers in 2019, following her cancer diagnosis,” said Campbell. “This first amazing team supported Amara by participating in the 2019 Swan River Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life. The team name and colours were perfect, so it has remained.
“We decided to continue to raise awareness about childhood cancer and fundraise in memory of Amara. The first Amara’s Amigos Garage Sale was a success, so it has continued as an annual event. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, as well as the month in which Amara passed away, so it has been meaningful to host the garage sale during that month.
“Then, in 2021, I approached the Stampeders to support Cameron Coulthart, a local 17-year-old boy who was fighting cancer,” said Campbell. “Cameron had spent some time with the team earlier that season before he had a big surgery. We did a small event collecting money for him, shared a brief update on his cancer, and his sister dropped the puck. In the 2023/24 season, was the first year that we bought Hockey Fights Cancer team jerseys. This event has just completed its third year.”
Over the years, Amara’s Amigos has raised money for the fight against cancer in many ways. It sparked a much bigger movement in the Valley, with more people and organizations getting involved by creating new fundraisers and helping the existing ones to raise more money than in years prior.
“The money collected from the garage sales, Ride Inside events, lemonade stand, cookie sales and the Hockey Fights Cancer event with the Swan Valley Stampeders is entirely donated to the CancerCare MB Foundation (CCMB), PROFYLE Program,” said Campbell. “The name stands for PRecision Oncology For Young peopLE, those living with rare and hard-to-treat cancers. The program provides genetic testing for these kids, searching for alternative treatment options. Amara’s oncologists were able to access PROFYLE for her treatment plan. She was able to take some additional oral chemotherapy that we think allowed her more months of life.
“Amara’s Amigos have also participated in the annual Swan River Terry Fox Runs since 2019.
“The newest fundraising event started in 2024, the annual Minitonas School Memorial Lunch Fundraiser for PAC improvements for their school,” said Campbell. “This event is in memory of both Amara and Joel.
“Our core group of Amara’s Amigos has remained pretty similar in size. These family members and friends continue to jump into action to assist Blair and me with the events. However, we also recognize our much wider group of Amara’s Amigos as every person and business that has supported us. It’s very special to continue seeing more purple shirts/hoodies, with the addition of a blue heart for Joel, around town, as we partnered with the Stampeders hockey team in 2023.”
At this past Amara’s Amigos Garage Sale Fundraiser, the group not only received a lot of donations to put towards the sale, but also raised slightly more in funds than the year prior.
“A total of $5,810 was raised at the 2025 garage sale,” said Campbell. “A bit higher than last year. The garage sales have been successful in various ways. We have provided a venue for our items to be repurposed by others, offering an opportunity for a wider variety of people to contribute to our fundraising, even if it was only an extra $2 they could afford. Each year, I have been pleasantly surprised at how many people stop in at the garage sale simply to drop off their annual donation cheque for CCMB. It has also developed into an opportunity to connect with community members who still support us as we live in grief.”
The total funds raised from the Hockey Fights Cancer event have not been totalled yet; however, the money raised from both this event and the garage sale will be presented to CCMBF at the Winnipeg Jets HFC game on November 23.
“The community support from the Swan River Valley has amazed us since 2019, right from the time of Amara’s cancer diagnosis,” said Campbell. “Blair and I have been humbled by the outpouring of support.

A new movement created to help children who are removed from their homes due to crisis circumstances such as abuse, neglect and other factors, has established a chapter in the Valley. Bags of Love is a charitable organization that provides the Department of Family Services with bags filled with items a child would benefit from having when being transitioned to a new living arrangement.
The Canadian Program was started in Alberta in 2009 and is making its way across Canada, and now here in the Valley.
“We recognize that certain children, upon being displaced from their normal or perhaps abnormal home life due to domestic violence and or drug or alcohol abuse, are left with nothing, not even their favourite toy or blanket,” said Bags of Love Volunteer Linda McCullough. “It is our intent that working through the Department of Families, to provide to each of these children, from newborn to age 17, a Bag of Love with age and gender appropriate items for their care and their enjoyment that they can truly call their very own.
“We believe that this small token of love and affection will go far toward helping these children adjust to a foster or adoptive home, whether temporary or permanent. We pray that these children will long cherish their Bag of Love and endeavour to remember other children who might be subjected to the same plight in their growing years.
“When given their very own Bag of Love, it can give them a sense of security, comfort and care to support their emotional and physical wellbeing,” said McCullough.
“While attending a Women’s Retreat in May of this year, Pauline Rogers from North Battleford, SK, spoke on this project that has been moving across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. We were impressed to start a chapter in Swan River, as we believe there is a need in our community and we want to make a difference in a child’s life.
“We officially became a chapter in September and have delivered eight Bags of Love to the Department of Families,” said McCullough. “We plan on delivering more in the near future.”
Items that are new or gently used can be donated to go into the Bags of Love.
“Items suitable for donation could be a handmade quilt/blanket, stuffed toys, dolls, new toys and games or clean and like new condition, school supplies, books, coloring books, journals for older children, flashlights, nightlights, hygiene products such as shampoo, body wash or bar soap, deodorant, sanitary napkins, dental hygiene products, combs/brushes, hair accessories, Kleenex, socks etc.,” said McCullough. “Also, baby items such as diapers, bottles, pacifiers, baby shampoo, lotion, powder, blankets, knitted hats, toys, stuffies, etc.”
The Swan River chapter for Bags of Love is also looking for volunteers to either help put the bags together or to make handmade items to go into them. 
“It takes a village to raise a child, and it also takes a community to make a project for children work,” said McCullough. “It relies on volunteers of all ages and walks of life to meet the needs of displaced children by donating the above items as mentioned.
“If you sew or knit, we can use homemade quilts, baby blankets, bibs, pencil cases or makeup bags, hats, mittens and scarves. Please contact me or Donna Leming.
“We are a nonprofit organization and will be operating through the Swan River Seventh-day Adventist Church. If someone wishes to make a monetary donation, please make cheques payable to the Swan River Seventh-day Adventist Church and mark ‘Bags of Love’ and a receipt will be issued. Please contact me at 204-281-0483 or Donna Leming at 204-731-4553 if you have any questions or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..”