It is never planned, and when it happens, it is always a shock. A child is diagnosed with a serious illness or has special needs.

Families can be torn apart, daily routines can be disrupted, financial devastation can result if one or both parents miss work for extended periods of time.

To help raise awareness of these kinds of problems, a group of young professionals has partnered with Chai Lifeline Canada to organize Conspire 2 Inspire, a fundraising event set for May 29 at the Burroughes Building, 639 Queen St.W.

“Conspire 2 Inspire was born with the intent of having every young professional resonate with this organization, and know of the important… work that Chai Lifeline does,” said Michael Grossman, lead chair of Conspire 2 Inspire.

“Thirty-five committee members have been working tirelessly on their own time to make a difference to our kids and our families. These are our future leaders, and it is inspiring to see them engaged in a way that is so meaningful,” said Craig Fried, director of development for Chai Lifeline Canada, an organization that provides support to more than 200 Canadian families who have children with serious illnesses or other disorders.

“The organization is personal for me, as, a couple of years ago, dear friends of mine had their youngest child diagnosed with a serious illness,” Grossman said. 

“It is very important to me that Chai Lifeline becomes a recognized charity within the young professional demographic. My friend had to quit her job.  Her husband had to leave town in order to take a job earning more money.”

The organization helped the family in many ways, Grossman said.

“From paying for her numerous parking bills at the hospital, providing meals when she was too exhausted at the end of the day to even lift a finger for her other children, providing babysitters, tutors, and even carpool services for her other children, Chai Lifeline provided incredible assistance,” he said.

Chai Lifeline has more than two dozen programs and services to help ease the almost insurmountable difficulties of caring for a sick child or one with ongoing special needs. Many services are provided free of charge.

The organization can offer financial support for medical expenses, counselling for each member of the family, Big Brothers and Big Sisters who bring an extra measure of adult attention to the children’s lives, tutoring for children who miss school for extended periods of time, family retreats, sibling programs and two summer camp programs.

Fried will attend the next Conspire 2 Inspire committee meeting to provide two options of where the funds raised can be directed to provide the greatest impact.

“This is very exciting and personal for us – to choose where the funds raised from Conspire 2 Inspire will go,” Grossman said.

The event is expected to attract some 400 young professionals, and will feature great music, dancing, a kosher sushi bar, and a burger bar with a barbecue on the rooftop patio. Everyone will go home with a swag bag full of goodies.

“We anticipate raising tens of thousands of dollars. Our goal is to have the children of Chai Lifeline be the winners at the end of the day,” Grossman said.

Visit www.chailifelinecanada.org/conspire to purchase tickets.