Two Hyundai Hope on Wheels Handprint Ceremonies, two brave kids, one mission to end childhood cancer

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Thursday, 24 Sep 2026 12:00 0 4 autotech

September 24, 2026 by Hyundai
• The Hyundai Hope on Wheels national tour stopped in Eastern Ontario, with Handprint Ceremonies at Kingston General Hospital and a local dealership alongside CHEO in • Ottawa, celebrating the strength of young patients battling cancer.
• Hyundai Hope on Wheels has donated $200,000 to the two hospitals, which is part of Hyundai Canada charity’s 2026 commitment of more than $4.1-million towards pediatric cancer care, research and family support programs that is being donated across Canada.
• The Kingston and Ottawa stops for Hyundai Hope on Wheels continues the organization’s second annual cross-country tour that will see it stop in 16 Canadian communities, building on the success of its inaugural year.

The colourful handprints at the centre of the Hyundai Hope on Wheels Handprint Ceremony tell a powerful story of resilience.

Left behind by children who have faced cancer, including young cancer patients Anderson Thoman of Kingston and Charley of Ottawa, they are a powerful reminder of the battle too many families have had to face. Earlier this week, the cross-Canada Hyundai Hope on Wheels tour brought its signature Handprint Ceremonies to Kingston and Ottawa, presenting $100,000 grants at each stop while celebrating the remarkable journeys of young patients whose courage continues to inspire their communities.

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‘Each handprint represents a child’s courage, a family’s hope and the determination of health-care professionals and researchers working to change the future of childhood cancer,’ says Fabio Cappella, Director of Product and Corporate Strategy with Hyundai Canada. ‘Through these donations, Hyundai Hope on Wheels is proud to help hospitals in Kingston and Ottawa advance the research, care and support that young patients and their families rely on.’

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A powerful reminder of tough battles
The signature Handprint Ceremony is at the heart of every Hyundai Hope on Wheels event. During the ceremony, children who have faced cancer pick a paint colour, dip their palm in it and leave their handprint on a Hyundai vehicle, creating a powerful tribute to their journeys and the courage, resilience and hope they embody every day.

As handprints cover the vehicle, it is transformed into a vibrant symbol of hope and the collective fight against childhood cancer. As the handprint-covered vehicle travels across Canada, it raises awareness and shares the stories of children and families impacted by childhood cancer.

The stories that keep us on the road

Each Handprint Ceremony features a patient ambassador and their family sharing the story of their journey battling cancer.

University Hospitals Kingston Foundation

Six-year-old Anderson Thoman was diagnosed with B Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma last year, and has been in treatment since June 2025. While his prognosis is good, the frequency of his treatment at Kingston General Hospital has varied greatly through the various stages, and he still faces another year of treatment, taking daily doses of oral chemotherapy at home.

CHEO

Last spring, Charley developed leg pain and a limp, which was originally chalked up to growing pains. But when her physiotherapist noticed a lump in her abdomen, her parents got her to CHEO right away. Not long after, they got the news every family dreads: Charley had a large cancerous tumour in her pelvis that required radiation, chemotherapy and several surgeries, including an 18-hour operation to remove the tumour. She is on a long road to recovery but faces it head on with positivity, resilience and maturity well beyond her 10 years.

Support from the showroom to the road

A portion of every new Hyundai vehicle sold in Canada is contributed to Hyundai Hope on Wheels. With well more than 100,000 vehicles sold in Canada every year, the support is significant. Canada was the first country Hyundai expanded to globally, and over the 40 years it has been in the country it has put down strong roots in communities from coast to coast to coast. Hyundai Canada’s 225 dealers across the country are very involved citizens of their community.

‘Every year, nearly 1,000 children in Canada are diagnosed with cancer,’ says Jeff Hewitt, Director, Connected Digital Experience at Hyundai Canada. ‘Behind every diagnosis is a child with dreams, a family holding onto hope, and health-care professionals working tirelessly toward a cure. That is why Hyundai Hope on Wheels exists. Together with our dealers, health-care partners, researchers and supporters, we are driving hope forward, advancing pediatric cancer research and working toward a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive.’