It was a trip to Siberia that triggered Bob Nath’s love for volunteering.

In 2009 Bob took a trip to Siberia, and he was struck by the generosity of the people he met there. He frequently encountered locals who reached out and helped complete strangers, with the sole motivation of showing kindness and support for others.

Inspired by the selfless examples he witnessed on his trip, Bob returned home and looked for ways he could help improve the lives of people in his community. He volunteered at The Cultch theatre, the Vancouver Canucks and the Vancouver Whitecaps, through which he was introduced to some other local BC charities.

Bob felt a personal connection with BC Children’s Hospital ever since his daughter Shania received care on the hospital campus, so it was natural for him to extend his volunteering to BC Children’s Hospital Foundation events. He poured hours of support into events like RISE for BC’s Kids (formerly known as Miracle Weekend) and RBC Race for the Kids, and Shania helped out a few times as well.

The more volunteering Bob did, the more addicted he got to helping and now it’s a frequent pastime for him. He is a regular volunteer at Whitecaps games and often shows his support for BC Children’s Hospital by helping out at various fundraising events.

Part of why Bob is so enthusiastic about volunteering is due to the support and encouragement he’s received from BC Children’s Hospital Foundation staff, which has made volunteering feel fun and fulfilling.

“It’s a great experience for me,” Bob said. “I know the money is going to a good cause, so I’ll do whatever it takes.”