Hyundai donates $650,000 to Western Canada children’s cancer centres

Hyundai Canada’s charitable organization, Hyundai Hope on Wheels, is dedicated to supporting children’s cancer care across the country.

Girl at Hyundai Hope on Wheels event — *A child smiles after leaving her handprint on a vehicle during a Hyundai Hope on Wheels donation event. – Hyundai Auto Canada photo*

Hyundai Auto Canada’s charitable organization has kicked off its second year of giving with donations to children’s cancer care programs in Western Canada.

The automaker, through its Hyundai Hope on Wheels, donated $650,000 to Western Canada hospitals and organizations.

Four hospitals get $100,000 each

Hyundai Canada and its 225 dealers donated four grants of $100,000 each to four hospital foundations. Those included the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation, Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation and Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba.

Hospital foundations are fundraising arms of hospitals. In the case of the above foundations, they, respectively, support the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary, Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton, Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon and HSC Winnipeg Children’s Hospital in Winnipeg.

Girl and boy in front of Hyundai Hope on Wheels vehicle — *The Hyundai Hope on Wheels vehicle made multiple stops in Western Canada recently. – Hyundai Auto Canada photo*

Researcher gets $250,000

Additionally, Hyundai Hope on Wheels, which has a partnership with the C17 Council, has announced an additional research grant of $250,000 through this partnership.

The grant will go to Dr. Jongbok Lee, Canada research chair in cancer immunology and assistant professor at the University of Calgary.

The research focuses on developing innovative immune cell therapies for children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), an aggressive form of pediatric cancer that is difficult to treat.

“Our research aims to make life-saving CAR-T cell therapy more accessible and reduce wait times for children who need it most,” Lee said in a news release. “Receiving this grant means so much. As a researcher, having our work selected for funding in this highly competitive process reinforces our belief that we are on the right path and can make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families affected by cancer.”

Boy with green handprint — *Children who have faced cancer are invited to place their handprint on a Hyundai vehicle during donation events. – Hyundai Auto Canada photo*

Every vehicle sold supports effort

Hyundai said that every time one of its vehicles is sold in Canada, a portion of the money goes to Hyundai Hope on Wheels.

In its first year, 2025, Hyundai Hope on Wheels committed to donating a total of $4 million to cancer care programs across the country. This year, the target is $4.1 million.

“In just our second year in Canada, we’ve seen first-hand the extraordinary resilience of children facing cancer and the dedication of the teams who care for them,” says Kirk Merrett, director of network planning, performance and customer experience at Hyundai Canada, and treasurer of Hyundai Hope on Wheels, in the release.

“Hyundai Hope on Wheels grants are about more than funding, they are about standing alongside families, supporting groundbreaking research and helping create a future where no child has to face cancer.”

Hyundai Hope on Wheel donations also include a handprint ceremony, in which children who have faced cancer leave their handprint on a Hyundai vehicle.

Hyundai says behind every handprint there is a story of courage, resilience and hope.