Welcome to Help a Child Smile

As you would imagine, life for a child with cancer is filled with pain, hospital visits, treatment, and sacrifice.

“Help A Child Smile” was created in 1987 from the need to bring some joy into the lives of children with cancer. The wish of a brave young child to go to Wonderland soon after it opened inspired family and friends, and Help A Child Smile was born.

Now in its fourth decade, HACS is serving over 1500 families whose child is being or has been treated for cancer at McMaster Children’s Hospital. There are an average of 150 children in active treatment at any given time.

The Board of Directors remains dedicated to providing opportunities for these children to smile and have fun, even if only for a couple of hours, a day, or a week.

Mission Statement

An organization focused on children with cancer treated at the Children’s Hospital at Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation by providing opportunities for them and their families to smile and have fun.