SBHANA Support Fund

The Cause

The Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Northern Alberta (SBHANA) offers a Support Fund to assist persons with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus with the cost of specialized leisure and recreational equipment, medical equipment, services such as specialized lessons or camps and emergency personal expenses directly resulting from the fact that the person has spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus.

The Fund Supports Four Types of Expenses:
1) Expenses for equipment or services, which are necessities or make life more pleasant and would not be required if the person did not have spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus.
2) Emergency personal expenses such as travel expenses from out of town when a person with spina bifida and or hydrocephalus is hospitalized. This would also cover the rental of specialized equipment due to an emergency (e.g. special wheelchair, ramp, etc.)
3) Emergency personal expenses for adults with spina bifida that are required to maximize their independence in the areas of self-care, productivity, and leisure.
4) Health and Wellness expenses which are not covered by any other source of funding. All Health and Wellness expenses are subject to a maximum amount of $500.

Eligibility:
To be eligible for the Support Fund, you must be:
1. A member in good standing of the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Northern Alberta.
2. A resident of Northern Alberta or the Northwest Territories.

Process:
A support Fund application is filled out and a supporting invoice or receipt is submitted with it.
Applications will be considered at the meetings of the Board of Directors. There are no meetings in July, August or December.

Members claiming under this fund are strongly encouraged to make a commitment of volunteer time to support the SBHANA wherever possible.

Who Will it Benefit?

The Support Fund benefits our members who live in Northern Alberta as well as the members we have who live in the Northwest Territories. Our members are individuals who have spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus.

Spina bifida is the incomplete formation of the spine and spinal cord. It results in varying degrees of paralysis, as well as affect the function of bladder and bowel, hand skills, vision, hearing, and learning abilities. Surgery to repair the spine and spinal cord is performed only hours after birth.