Coming Soon
A Children's Book Inspired by Kadence & Sadie
"A story of hope, courage, resilience, and the extraordinary bond between a child and her service dog while battling a rare form of childhood cancer."
A Video Message from Co-Founder Tina Gillies
Hope. Healing. Resilience.
A national project by the Kadence Legacy Fund
Every child facing trauma deserves hope.
Every parent deserves to know they are not alone.
This children's book was inspired by Kadence and her service dog, Sadie, and is being created to help children and families navigating childhood cancer, trauma, mental health challenges, and life's most difficult journeys.
Our vision is simple yet ambitious: to place this book in Military Family Resource Centres, children's hospitals, pediatric oncology units, children's mental health programs, schools, and community organizations across Canada—at no cost to the families who need it most.
$25,000 National Partnership Sponsor Package for Kadence and Sadie's Children's Book
Partnership Funding for Kadence & Sadie: A Legacy Story
Partnership Sponsorship Package: Four-Page Recognition Layout
Explore the partnership opportunities available for Kadence & Sadie: A Legacy Story and see how participating organizations, businesses, and community supporters will be recognized within the finished book.
The package includes an example of the four-page partnership recognition layout and the available funding levels.
Partnership Funding Package
To become a partner or request additional information, please email Tina Gillies, Co-Founder and CEO of Kadence Legacy Fund, at kadencelegacymemorialfund@gmail.com
The exclusive $25,000 National Founding Partner opportunity is outlined above, with complete sponsorship information included in the package.
Preorders for Kadence & Sadie: A Legacy Story are coming soon!
Our
Story
Get to Know Us
When Kadence was just 12 years old, our family heard the words no parent is ever prepared to hear.
She had cancer.
In that moment, our lives changed forever.
As her mother and caregiver, I had to quit my career to be a full-time caregiver, I suddenly found myself navigating a world of medical appointments, treatments, fear, uncertainty, and overwhelming responsibility. While doctors worked tirelessly to treat Kadence's illness, I quickly realized there was no roadmap for supporting the emotional and mental health of a child facing cancer or for the parents trying to stay strong mentally beside them.
Cancer doesn't come with a mental health playbook.
There is no handbook explaining how to comfort your child after another difficult appointment, how to help siblings cope, or how to carry the weight of fear while trying to create moments of joy. Families often experience isolation, exhaustion, grief, and judgment from people who simply don't understand what life becomes after a diagnosis.
Like so many parents, I did the best I could.
Every day, I chose hope with a positive mindset and a mental health support team provide by Veterans Affairs Canada.
One of the greatest sources of hope during our journey came from John Dugas, a fellow veteran who understood the life-changing impact of service dogs. Through John's guidance and support, I was able to access what would become Kadence's service dog, Sadie.
Sadie was much more than a companion. She walked beside Kadence through hospital appointments, chemotherapy, radiation treatments, and every challenge that came with childhood cancer. She provided comfort during the hardest days, reduced anxiety, built confidence, and reminded Kadence that she was never facing her journey alone.
Sadie's impact extended far beyond Kadence's cancer journey.
When we lost Kadence on April 19, 2024, at just 18 years old, our family entered a new chapter of grief. As a mother, caregiver, and veteran living with PTSD, I experienced the overwhelming reality of retraumatization. Losing a child is life-changing, and grief has a way of reopening wounds you thought had begun to heal.
Once again, Sadie became my source of comfort. She stayed by my side through the darkest days, grounding me when the weight of grief became overwhelming. She gave me a reason to get out of bed, to take one more step forward, and to begin finding my way through unimaginable loss.
That experience strengthened my belief that professionally trained service dogs do more than support one individual.
They can help an entire family navigate trauma, loss, healing, and hope. It is one of the reasons the Kadence Legacy Fund exists today.
We want other families to experience the same comfort and support that Sadie gave to ours.
