• Last leg of the 2026 Hyundai Hope on Wheels tour wraps up with $433,500 in donations to Fondation Charles-Bruneau in Quebec City and the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation in Montréal.
• The second-annual cross-country Hyundai Hope on Wheels tour crosses the finish line after 16 inspiring Handprint Ceremonies in 15 communities, enriching Canadians with heart-pulling personal stories of the battles waged by young cancer patients and their families.
• Funding will help researchers and care teams pursue better treatments and brighter futures for children facing cancer and their families.
• Hyundai Hope on Wheels celebrates patient ambassador’s fifth birthday during handprint ceremony with a special gift.

MONTREAL, Oct. 23, 2026 /CNW/ — Every child deserves a chance to dream, play and grow up healthy.

That belief is at the heart of Hyundai Hope on Wheels, which wrapped up its 2026 campaign in Quebec this week, with a total of $433,500 in donations for Fondation Charles-Bruneau in Quebec City and the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation in Montréal, made at inspiring Handprint Ceremonies this week. Hyundai Hope on Wheels is a national campaign that is raising money and awareness for pediatric cancer programs across Canada, supporting the hospitals, researchers and care teams working tirelessly to improve outcomes for children facing cancer and move closer to a future free from the disease.

“Behind every research project and every advancement in childhood cancer care is a child and a family hoping for a better outcome,” says Steve Flamand, President and CEO of Hyundai Canada. “That is what makes our support for Fondation Charles-Bruneau and the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation so meaningful. We’re honoured to stand alongside the remarkable teams in Quebec City and Montréal who are working to give children facing cancer greater hope for the future.”

The Handprint Ceremonies give children who have faced cancer an opportunity to leave a colourful mark on a Hyundai vehicle. Together, the handprints transform the vehicle into a moving symbol of hope, resilience and the shared effort to create a future free from childhood cancer. This year, through a partnership with the C17 council, Hyundai Hope on Wheels is also providing dedicated funding to help advance pediatric oncology clinical trials and research.

Expanding research capacity and improving care

The CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation is receiving $333,500 to support paediatric oncology research and care, including a $100,000 gift from Hyundai Hope on Wheels to CHU Sainte-Justine’s Clinical Research Unit in Hematology, Oncology and Immunology (URCHOI) and a $233,500 research grant awarded in partnership with the Canadian C17 Council to Dr. Sébastien Perreault, clinical researcher and neuro-oncologist. Hyundai Hope on Wheels’ contribution will help URCHOI advance innovative research, facilitate access to new treatments and strengthen the integration of clinical research into patient care. URCHOI has helped position Quebec as the Canadian province with the highest number of children with leukemia participating in clinical trials and is expanding its expertise across the province through satellite centres designed to foster collaboration and innovation.

Personalized care for a little angel

The donation to the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation will help provide the best possible care for children facing cancer today, like seven-year-old Eva. One year ago, Eva developed abdominal pain with a fever. Thinking it may be appendicitis, her mother Anne took her to their family doctor, where imaging tests revealed a mass on her kidney. Eva was quickly referred to CHU Sainte-Justine, where the family got the heart-wrenching diagnosis of a Wilms tumour.

Following an initial surgical attempt and chemotherapy, Eva underwent surgery to remove the affected kidney. She then completed additional chemotherapy treatments over seven months. Throughout her treatment, Eva received personalized care, tailored to her condition. Her treatment finished in July, and she has responded well, returning to school this fall and getting back to her regular activities. However, although treatment is complete, the teams at CHU Sainte-Justine continue to monitor Eva closely.

“Two children may have the same cancer, but every journey is different,” says Anne. “Initially, Eva’s tumour did not respond to chemotherapy as expected. Her personalized treatment plan was then adapted, and it saved her life. If the physicians at Sainte-Justine are able to care for thousands of children as unique as Eva, it is thanks to research.”

Driving innovation in pediatric hematology and oncology

The $100,000 contribution from Hyundai Hope on Wheels will support Fondation Charles-Bruneau’s major five-year, $50-million commitment to pediatric hematology-oncology research in Quebec. This commitment supports research teams across Quebec’s pediatric university hospitals, including CHU de Québec-Université Laval. As part of this major commitment, Fondation Charles-Bruneau has committed $5.3 million to CHU de Québec-Université Laval to support research projects focused on areas including proteomics, personalized immunotherapy, predicting treatment-related complications, support for oral chemotherapy and medulloblastoma research.

The funding contributes to advancing research aimed at developing more precise and effective treatments, improving outcomes for children with cancer and reducing the long-term effects of both the disease and its treatments.

A birthday to remember

The day Samy left his colourful handprint on a Hyundai SUV in Quebec City was memorable for more than just marking his cancer journey; the handprint ceremony coincided with his fifth birthday. To help celebrate the occasion, Hyundai surprised Samy and his family with tickets to see their favourite team, the Montreal Canadiens. Having never attended an NHL game before, the experience is a dream come true for Samy as his family.

An affectionate, quiet, spontaneous, curious and active little boy, Samy was diagnosed with B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma in January 2025.During the first nine months of his treatment journey, he visited the Unité d’hémato-oncologie pédiatrique Charles-Bruneau at CHU de Québec-Université Laval every week. Today, his visits take place once a month. Since October 2026, he has also been receiving daily oral chemotherapy, a treatment that is expected to continue until next spring.

Samy’s cancer diagnosis and treatment have changed many aspects of daily life. He spent time away from daycare and friends, while hospital visits, treatments and fatigue became part of his routine. Throughout his journey, Samy has benefited from the Programme VIE, which supports children and families through physical activity, nutrition and psychosocial care. He especially enjoys playing hockey in the hospital hallways and riding pedal cars during his stays. Today, Samy remains a curious and active little boy. He looks forward to ringing the bell that marks the end of his treatment.

“The journey is not always easy and comes with its share of unexpected challenges, but we always felt supported and cared for by the team at the Unité d’hémato-oncologie pédiatrique Charles-Bruneau at CHU de Québec-Université Laval,” says Marianne Rousseau, Samy’s mother. “Supporting research means helping improve the treatments available to children like our Samy, while also helping reduce the long-term impacts of the disease and its treatments on their lives.”

A rolling reminder of perseverance and hope

With the support of Hyundai Canada’s national network of 225 dealers, a portion of every new Hyundai vehicle sold in the country supports Hyundai Hope on Wheels, a registered national charitable organization. Dedicated to helping end childhood cancer, Hyundai Hope on Wheels recognizes the brave children and their families who have or are facing a cancer diagnosis. At the signature Handprint Ceremonies held at each stop of the Hyundai Hope on Wheels national tour, children affected by cancer leave their colourful handprints on a white Hyundai SUV. Together, these handprints transform the vehicle into a powerful symbol of courage, resilience and hope for every child and family facing a cancer journey.

About Hyundai Hope on Wheels

Every time a new Hyundai is sold, a portion of that sale will help to fund Hyundai Hope on Wheels. In 2026, Hyundai Hope on Wheels continues to expand its impact across Canada, committing more than $4.1 million toward pediatric cancer, supported by Hyundai Auto Canada and its network of more than 225 Hyundai dealers nationwide. Through its new partnership with Canada’s C17 Council, Hyundai Hope on Wheels helps advance pediatric oncology clinical trials and research by providing dedicated funding support.

Hyundai Hope on Wheels is a registered charitable foundation dedicated to helping end childhood cancer. Since launching in Canada in 2025, it has become one of the country’s leading supporters of pediatric cancer research, care and survivorship through impactful investments that help advance treatment and improve outcomes for children and their families.

Media Contacts:

• Nitish Bissonauth, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, Hyundai Auto Canada; nbissonauth@hyundaicanada.com 
• Mohga Hassib, Corporate Communications, Hyundai Auto Canada; mhassib@hyundaicanada.com

SOURCE Hyundai Auto Canada Corp.