Ruby’s tree star of show
Kirk Penton - Dec 21, 2022 - Get Involved

Photo: Contributed

The memory of young Ruby Rota continues to shine bright.

The seven-year-old passed away in May 2017 due to a brain tumour, and once again this holiday season her family is keeping her memory alive—and raising money—through the annual Festival of Trees, a BC Children’s Hospital Foundation fundraiser.

Ruby Rota

Since Ruby loved Disney and everything associated with it, this year her family decorated the “In Memory of Ruby Rota” Christmas tree with a Moana theme. The tree is on display in the lobby at Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort in downtown Kelowna, and it is free for anyone to view.

“It’s just part of our grieving processes to try to find something positive around the holidays to remember Ruby by,” dad Wes Rota said of decorating a tree in honour of his daughter. “It’s not just for us, but everybody else that knew her: teachers, friends and all those people. It gives them somewhere positive to go and maybe just reflect a little bit.”

There are Festival of Trees locations throughout the province, but the “In Memory of Ruby Rota” tree has raised the most money thus far. It has already topped the $5,000 mark, and the goal is to raise $10,000 for the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation before the fundraiser wraps on Jan. 3. Money raised this year will go specifically to treat children who have diabetes.

Rota family members spent significant time at Vancouver’s Ronald McDonald House during Ruby’s treatments, and they have not forgotten how excellent everyone was to them during the most heartbreaking time of their lives. That also plays a role in their decision to decorate a tree for the fundraiser every year.

“That is something we will never forget,” Wes said. “They’re an amazing bunch of people down there. If we can help raise money to make other people’s experiences better—better yet, save some kids’ lives by fundraising for research—it’s pretty important to us.”

In addition to the dozen or so trees at the Delta, there is also a Festival of Trees display at Mission Hill Estate Winery in West Kelowna. Some of the businesses that have donated to this year’s cause include Cactus Club and King Taps, Eising Construction, Art Lovers Gallery, Kelowna Laser Vision/Dr. Chambers Ophthalmic Services, Wellington-Altus, Southern Insurance, Okanagan Smile, FortisBC, YLW, Delta Hotel, Playtime Casino, Encore, Okanagan Dentistry and Fairfield Hotel Kelowna.

To donate to the “In Memory of Ruby Rota” tree, click here.


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