Support Tynan’s Educational Pursuits

As many of you know, I have been blessed with some amazing opportunities over the past couple of years. I am currently in my fourth and final year of my first degree, a BSc in Kinesiology, Major in Exercise and Health Physiology. In this season of my life, I am focused primarily on developing skills to be well equipped out in the world but I am also looking intently at different career options. I have many goals for my career, but the one that sticks out the most is definitely my dream of becoming a Pediatric Oncologist and acting as the Principle Investigator a research centre focused on alternative medicine for children with cancer! 

Current Committments

As I mentioned, I am busy doing an array of activities to further myself and become as well-rounded as I possibly can while I have the diverse setting of a University behind me. Here are a few of my current undertakings:

• Co-coordinator for the PEER Program. I co-founded this exercise program for children with cancer last summer and since then we have grown and partnered with the Kids Cancer Care Foundation, running out of the Alberta Children's Hospital.
• Volunteering for the Thrive Centre, an innovative exercise centre for cancer survivors and their supporters.
• Completing my Honours Thesis on the "Attitudes and Beliefs of Health Care Professionals and Parents Surrounding Alternative Therapies for Children with Cancer." 
• Development team member for Therapetic Arts Research Team (TART). This program looks to expand music and art therapy research in the Alberta Children's Hospital. I am able to bring my understanding of starting research programs of this type within a team of oncologists, psychologists, academics and therapists.
• Project Director for Dynamics. I co-founded this project in May 2013 and it seeks to establish a connection between the business and sports worlds. Through Enactus, a non-profit global organization, we are able to connect young elite athletes with business knowledge in order to self-market, create an image for themselves in their sport domain and successfully continue their sport participation with enhances quality of life and standard of living.
• Leadership team for Athletes in Action. This club on campus is in partnership with my church family in Calgary, UChurch. We seek to empower athletes in their sport through a weekly bible study to further our identity and faith amidst all the stress of University life.
• Part-time employment as a Research Assistant for two studies through the Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre at the University of Calgary: 1) Prospective study on Pee-Wee and Bantam Hockey Players to aid in the Prevention of Concussions and 2) A study looking at Osteoarthritis development in people who have sustained Knee Injuries in their Youth Sport Participation.

Need for Financial Support

In the near future I am hoping to attend Medical School. However, it is utterly difficult to get admitted and therefore, if unsuccessful at first in this, I plan to pursue a Masters degree in Complementary Therapies for Children with Cancer. All of these applications are highly expensive (~$150/each) and I have to complete a lot of them in order to improve my chances of success. I will also be traveling to New York City to study music this December 2013. I have chosen to do this for three reasons: 1) I have a sincere passion for music and dance and have dreamed of this type of trip for many years, 2) I know that travel experience is one that I am lacking and see as highly valuable towards my career, and 3) I want to expand my knowledge base in music in order to better contribute to the Music Therapy involvements I currently have.

I want to sincerely thank you for any contribution you do make on my behalf. I certainly struggled with the idea of asking for help in the area of financial support, but realized how important it was for my own quality of life and happiness as a young student venturing into what I hope is a successful and rewarding career. I appreciate your support and love and am highly motivated to use all donations in a constructive and worthwhile manner!

Sincerely,

Tynan