Twenty years after receiving a special gift as a teenager battling cancer, Mark Riffel — now an adult survivor of cancer — continues to give back to the community that rallied around him.
Riffel was 15-years-old and seriously ill when the Children’s Wish Foundation contributed about $3,500 to install a stereo system in his car.
That was in 1993.
Since then, Riffel has gone on to become a successful business owner in Saskatoon and, as an adult survivor of cancer, regularly donates to the charities that reached out to him.
He estimates that over the years he has contributed about $65,000 to the foundation and other charities.
Riffel operates an auto salvage yard in Saskatoon and has been holding a yearly show-and-shine fundraiser and charity sale of parts.
“Last year I think we were right around $4,000 for the Cancer Centre,” Riffel said of the most recent charity event.
He is hoping this year’s event, set for Saturday at Affiliated Auto north of Saskatoon on Highway 12, will bring in even more money.
Riffel says his own experiences as a teen have moved him to help youngsters facing cancer.
“It’s kind of a heart wrenching moment to meet some of these kids who’ve been through something so difficult that I can really relate to,” he told CBC News.
Gary Oldhaven, president of the Saskatchewan chapter of the Children’s Wish Foundation, said many people who have been helped by the group are keen to give back in any way they can.
“They’re coming back to us to volunteer, to act as spokespeople, to be what we call wish ambassadors,” Oldhaven said.
Proceeds from Saturday’s show-and-shine and parts sale are earmarked for the Cancer Centre in Saskatoon.
With files from CBC’s Dan Zakreski
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