In Loving Memory of Kailani Gorzo

In Loving Memory: Kailani Gorzo, a loving 14-year-old girl who brought so much light into this world.

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Kailani Gorzo. Kailani was beautiful, she meant everything to her family and friends, and her love ran deep. Being around her made you feel special, seen, and truly loved.

She found happiness in the simplest and most beautiful things, butterflies, rainbows, and her favourite colour purple. She had a playful spirit and loved to be silly, always making people laugh in her own unique way. Kailani also had her own special kind of sass, a spark of personality that made her unforgettable and brought so much joy to everyone around her.

She adored her two pets, Charlie, her loyal dog, and Caramel, her sweet guinea pig. They were a big part of her world and brought her comfort on even the hardest days.

Kailani spent much of her life at the Children’s Hospital, where she became more than just a patient, she became part of their family.

The doctors and nurses knew her well and loved her deeply. Even through everything she faced, Kailani showed incredible strength, courage, and resilience. She never lost her spirit, her warmth, or her ability to bring smiles to others.

Our hearts are broken without her. Her smile, her laughter, and her beautiful soul are deeply missed every single day. Though her time here was far too short, the love she gave and the memories she left behind will stay with us forever.

This page is created in her memory, to honour her life, her strength, and the love she shared with the world. Thank you for helping us keep Kailani’s spirit alive and for supporting us in remembering the amazing girl she was.

At the request of Kailani’s family, donations may be made to MitoCanada in her memory, honouring the life, strength, and love she shared.

The Great Clyde Challenge Trivia Night

Gather your team and join us for the inaugural Great Clyde Challenge Trivia Night, a community-led evening of fun in support of MitoCanada.

With trivia, laughs, prizes, raffles, a 50/50 draw and great company, it's a chance to have fun, bring people together, and make a meaningful difference for Canadians impacted by mitochondrial disease.

Not playing trivia? Spectator admission is just $5 at the door! Come enjoy the atmosphere, cheer on your friends and be part of a fun community night in support of MitoCanada.

Whether you are a trivia expert, a sideline supporter, or simply looking for a great night out, everyone is welcome!

Trivia Night Event Details

📅 Saturday, September 26th, 2026

🕢 6:00 PM doors open, 6:30 PM trivia starts

📍 Creemore Station on the Green (10 Caroline St E, Creemore, ON)

✨ Registration - $100 per team (Teams of 6-8 players)

Team spots are limited and advance registration is required. Once teams are full, there will be no walk-in trivia participants.

To register:

clyde.4mito@hotmail.com

(705) 888-9902

Dinks for a Difference with YYC Pickleball

Serve, Rally and Make an Impact at Dinks for a Difference

Get ready to rally for a cause for a fun-filled community pickleball tournament at YYC Pickleball in support of MitoCanada. Whether you are new to the game or a seasoned competitor, this event brings together players of all skill levels for an exciting day of pickleball, connection and impact.

All proceeds help support Canadians living with mitochondrial disease through education, support, awareness and transformational research.

Event Details

📅 Saturday, July 25th, 2026

🕚 8:00am – 4:00pm MST

📍YYC PickleBall, 1108 53 Ave NE Units 100-102, Calgary, AB, T2E 6N9

🎟️ Registration Fee: $60

Registration

*Before registering, please have both members of your team create individual accounts with YYC Pickleball so waivers can be signed and you can register as a team!

There are three different divisions to choose from with corresponding court times:

Beginner Division (2.0–2.99) – 8:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Perfect for newer players looking for a fun and welcoming tournament experience – REGISTER HERE
Intermediate Division (3.0–3.49) – 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM
A balanced division for players with developing strategy and competitive play experience – REGISTER HERE
Advanced Division (3.5+) – 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Fast-paced, high-energy competition for experienced players. Tournament structure may be adjusted depending on registration numbers – REGISTER HERE

Volunteers

YYC Pickleball is currently looking for volunteers to help make this inaugural event a success. If you’re interested in volunteering, please sign up using the button below.

HELP US MAKE THIS EVENT A SUCCESS – VOLUNTEER!

Fundraise to Support MitoCanada

Dinks for a Difference participants are encouraged to help support the cause and can do so in a number of ways:

Create a fundraising page using the sign up form below
Make a direct donation by using the donation form below
Share Dinks for a Difference with your friends, family, colleagues

Content Use & Collaboration

Our Commitment to Stewardship

At MitoCanada, the stories, images, and resources we share are grounded in the lived experiences of individuals and families, and in collaboration with clinicians and researchers across Canada and beyond.

This content is shared with us through trust and partnership. We carry a responsibility to ensure it is used with care, respect, and integrity.

We are stewards of the content entrusted to us, whether it reflects a personal story, a research partnership, or an educational resource.

This means:

Respecting how stories and contributions are shared and represented
Ensuring individuals, families, and collaborators remain informed about how content is used
Protecting the context, voice, and intent behind each contribution
Upholding accuracy and integrity in research-informed content

This approach is central to how we honour the generosity and collaboration of our community and partners.

Scope of Content

This guidance applies to all MitoCanada content, including but not limited to:

Faces of Mito and other patient storytelling initiatives (e.g., 15 Stories for 15 Years)
MitoInsights and research translation content developed with researcher partners
Educational resources, guides, and infographics
Images, graphics, and digital assets shared across our platforms

Use of MitoCanada Content

All MitoCanada content is the property of MitoCanada and/or its contributors and collaborators and is protected by copyright.

Content may not be:

Reproduced, adapted, or modified without written permission from MitoCanada
Rebranded or presented as originating from another organization
Shared publicly without appropriate attribution and prior approval

Requesting Permission

We welcome opportunities to collaborate and amplify community voices and research in a way that is thoughtful and respectful.

If you are interested in sharing or using MitoCanada content, please contact us in advance. This allows us to:

Confirm consent with individuals and families, where applicable
Align with research partners on appropriate use and representation
Ensure content is shared accurately, respectfully, and in the right context

To start a conversation, please contact: communications@mitocanada.org

Request Permission

Our Approach to Collaboration

We believe collaboration strengthens awareness, education, and impact across the mitochondrial disease community.

Meaningful collaboration is built on:

Transparency and open communication
Respect for ownership, contribution, and consent
A shared commitment to centring patient and family voices
Integrity in representing research and lived experience

We are always open to working together in ways that align with these values.

A Note on Trust

Every story, insight, and resource shared through MitoCanada reflects a contribution from someone who has placed their trust in us.

Protecting that trust is not only a responsibility, it is a commitment we uphold in every partnership, every collaboration, and every piece of content we share.

Mermaids for Mito

Make a Splash for Mitochondrial Disease

Join the mermaids of Oak Bay, BC for a friendly plunge to raise awareness and support for mitochondrial disease. The first annual Mermaids for Mito is a community-driven gathering where connection comes first. Whether you dip your toes in the water or simply enjoy the shoreline, everyone is welcome to come! Coffee and snacks will be provided, and an uplifting vibe with music and a bubble machine will keep you energized.

Event Details

📅 Saturday, May 23, 2026

🕚 11:00 AM

📍Beach at McMicking Park, off Radcliffe Lane, Oak Bay

Parking is limited, please consider biking or walking if possible
If driving: Park on Beach Drive or Newport and follow Hood Lane to Radcliffe Lane to the beach

🎟️ Event is free, donations are encouraged below in support of MitoCanada

👕 Show your support to those living with mitochondrial disease by wearing green. Don’t forget a towel!

If you cannot join us, support our group by making a donation below!

Meet Alyson

Meet Louise

Hi. I’m Louise, and I live in Mississauga, Ontario.

I love volunteering on Patient and Family Advisory Committees for Trillium Health Partners, running an annual charity event for MitoCanada, working on my coin collection, and doing aquafit. My faith, loving family and friends are all important to me. I feel blessed that my 2 adult children are unaffected by mito. They have all rallied around me, encouraging me, helping me, and picking me up on those low days. I have an amazing support system!

I am so overjoyed to have MitoCanada in my life for many reasons. I believe in the work they do to help raise awareness and funds for research and education. This organization understands what I’m going through and how hard life gets sometimes. I have a personal connection with quite a few members of the board of directors, and I cherish them.

In 2015, I participated in a walk for mito and it hit me that I was the only one walking the 2.5km who had mito. Others were either being pushed in a wheelchair, or family members were walking in memory of their loved ones. When I finally finished, I was 40 min behind everyone else, and all the finishers were still there to cheer me on. The encouragement was so inspiring!

I can’t walk that distance now; however, after that year, I decided to raise awareness in my own community. I started Walk’nRoll 4 Mito in 2015 because it gives me a purpose to focus on what I can do, and I’m excited to see that it has since gone national. The support I have received from MitoCanada has been encouraging and kept me going, especially during the tough times. I want to show that doing something is better than nothing, and the more you push yourself, the better you will feel. Exercise is medicine, especially with mito disorders. Even though I can’t walk 2.5 km, I do what I can. I find that an hour in the water doing aquafit is most beneficial to me.

In 2015, when I started the Walk’nRoll, my sister Rita (who also had mito) was being pushed in a wheelchair. Rita lost her battle to mito and since 2018, the walk has been in memory of Rita and all the ones we have lost too soon to this disease.

I’m passionate about raising awareness and funds for research because it would have made a difference in my life and my sister Rita’s. I began having symptoms at the age of 8 but was not correctly diagnosed with mito until I was 18 years old. There is a huge advantage with early testing, diagnosis and education.

My vision for MitoCanada is that we would be able to get an early diagnosis so treatment can begin right away, to continue with mitochondrial transplantation research and testing and eventually find a cure.

As for me, I’ll keep fighting. I know that I have mito, but mito does not have me

Meet Hazel

Meet Hazel

My name is Hazel Currie, and I’m proud to be involved as a MitoAmbassador. Supporting Canadians living with mito diseases is such important work and so needed. I am active with MitoCanada, supporting the organization through various fundraising and educational events, including “Hazel’s Light Up for Mito” annual walk, Mermaids for Mito, and MitoSpin in my hometown of Victoria, British Columbia.

I believe that creating connections are key to a healthy and vibrant community. As a professional communicator in my work, I see first-hand the rewards of meaningful engagement and relationship building.

I am diagnosed with the ultra-rare mitochondrial disease, MNGIE (mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalopathy). I want to educate and share with others about mito diseases, be part of creating awareness, and hopefully find better treatments and a cure. There are days I just want to curse MNGIE & its effects.

My vision is finding other MNGIE patients in Canada and around the world, so those with rare diseases know they are not alone.

I aim to lead an active lifestyle, embracing challenging hikes and walks with my husband and sons. I also enjoy cooking, reading, doing ocean dips at the beach year-round (rain, shine, or snow!), and hanging out with my affectionate dog and cat.

Meet Keith

Meet Kailey