Hyundai Hope on Wheels has announced a record $1.1 million commitment to childhood cancer research and treatment, with a particular focus on helping families access potentially life-saving clinical trials.
The announcement was made during a Handprint Ceremony at Toronto Hyundai this month, according to Hyundai Auto Canada. The funding represents the initiative’s largest single commitment in Canada since its launch in 2025. Of the total, $750,000 will support the STEP-1 Program, which helps families cover travel and related expenses when children require specialized cancer treatment away from home.
Another $350,000 will go to Toronto’s SickKids, including $250,000 for pediatric cancer research through the C17 Council and $100,000 for programs supporting children and their families.
“Last year we learned that one of the greatest challenges families face is access to treatment. This year, we’re doing something about it,” said Steve Flamand, President and CEO of Hyundai Auto Canada, in a statement.
The STEP-1 initiative supports eligible patients with hard-to-treat cancers and their caregivers by helping cover costs such as transportation, accommodation, meals and parking when participating in early-phase clinical trials.
The Toronto event also featured 11-year-old Dominique, a SickKids patient ambassador diagnosed with leukemia in 2024, who participated in the campaign’s signature Handprint Ceremony.
Hyundai Hope on Wheels is supported by more than 225 Canadian Hyundai dealerships, which contribute a portion of every new vehicle sale to the charitable foundation. The latest announcement brings the campaign’s 2026 funding commitment to more than $4.1 million, benefiting pediatric cancer research, care and support programs across Canada’s 16 pediatric hospitals.
The national tour included stops in Quebec City and Montreal this week.
