How Mana Ohana Started
Mana Ohana was originally released in January 2022. The inspiration came from a family who are our long-time customers - and now extremely good friends. Their daughter, Sammy, was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma.
She fought hard and rang that bell at the end of her therapy when she beat Cancer. Her family and their community came together to push through it. The Stollery Children’s Hospital was crucial throughout her therapies and recovery.
The artwork in the can was done by Sammy herself and we worked together with her mom and dad to create a beer that was delicious and made with love. This year, we are proud to announce we were able to donate $15,000 from all the community contributions and website donations to the Stollery Children’s Hospital.
We initially created it because we were inspired by Sammy but soon we realized it touched a lot of people and it’s bigger than us and Sammy. We have converted it into a yearly brew where each year we will be showcasing a new story. Each year we will continue raising money for the Stollery but hope to touch more hearts along the way.
This year we are introducing Nate and his story.
Born Dec 3, 2010, Nathan Jacques Beaudoin was born a healthy 8 pounds 7 ounces. Only 10 weeks later Nate was diagnosed with a rare heart and body condition. The simple explanation is that this disorder affects the heart and multiple other organs in the body. Nate had no spleen, an enlarged liver, and many other developmental issues as a result of this diagnosis. His prognosis was poor as his chances of survival to one year old were small. Nate defied the odds by learning to walk at almost four, talk, go to school, and develop lasting friendships with friends and family, and in 2019 he joined the St. Matthews hockey club.
On November 17, 2019 his family walked through the front doors at the Stollery Children’s Hospital as Nate had a pesky cough, which they thought was a possible lung infection. Unfortunately, it turned out to be much more sinister as he had a blood clot on his mitral valve which required immediate intervention. After 12 open heart surgeries, countless pokes, and having to be resuscitated four times in a 3 month period, their little hero took his last breath on February 7, 2020. Nate’s death shook the community and supporters from coast to coast mourned as he was laid to rest on February 14, 2020. Nate’s legacy still lives on through all that knew and loved him, as is so apparent by the 2nd annual memorial tournament taking place on March 18-19, 2023, which supports the GRIT program.
We are canning Mana Ohana this week and are proud to showcase his artwork on the can. To try this year's Mana Ohana you can find it online, our taproom, or various liquor stores.
Mana Ohana 2023
About Stollery
The Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton is a vital resource for the local community, providing top-notch medical care for children and their families. They offer a wide range of services, including emergency care, diagnostic testing, and specialized treatment for conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and genetic disorders. The hospital also provides support for parents and families, including counseling and education programs, as well as accommodations for families who need to stay close to their child during treatment. Additionally, the hospital works closely with local organizations and businesses to support families and children in need, making it a valuable partner in the community.