B.C. mom Susi Vander Wyk was crowned Walmart Canada's 2013 Mom Of The Year at a glitzy awards ceremony in Toronto on Monday.
Walmart received almost 25,000 nominations for this year's award, which were narrowed down to eight finalists including Chilliwack's Vander Wyk. A mother of three, her daughter Holli was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) at the age of two.
Since then, Vander Wyk has founded a support group for parents of children with disabilities, fundraised tirelessly for Families Of Spinal Muscular Atrophy Canada, and has run a summer camp for the past 13 years for affected families. She has been the president of Families Of SMA for the past two years.
"We are thrilled to bring the Mom of the Year Award back for a second year," Shelley Broader, president and CEO of Walmart Canada, said in a statement. "Once again, it has been an inspiring journey to review all the amazing stories of admirable women from across this nation."
Vander Wyk's award includes a donation of $100,000 to her charity of choice, Families Of SMA Canada, plus $10,000 for herself. The seven other finalists' charities of choice also receive $10,000. Singers Chantal Kreviazuk and Nikki Yanofsky performed at the event as well.
Read about all the finalists for Mom Of The Year in the slideshow below:
Walmart Canada's 2013 Mom Of The Year Finalists
Like this article? Follow our Facebook page
Or follow us on Twitter