A young Squamish resident enjoyed a day of distraction from constant pain thanks to a children's charity that focuses on "brightening" seriously ill children's lives.Looking at Briana Butcher, one wouldn't know that she has a serious illness. The young Squamish resident has a beautiful shy smile and the soft demeanor of most 10-year-old girls. One wouldn't know that underneath that smile is a ripple of pain that constantly throbs throughout the lower half of her body.A year ago, Briana was just like every other girl in her class at school. She played soccer, ran around, and had fun. Then in August, a hockey injury sent her to the hospital with her mother, Kathryn, believing she had broken her leg. Instead, Kathryn learned her daughter had a rare condition called complex regional pain syndrome.Briana's soccer days came to a grinding halt. Within two weeks of entering the hospital she was crawling and bound to a wheelchair. Just putting on socks was extraordinarily painful. Blankets hurt as well.Kathryn had to quit her job to take care of Briana, who spent the months of August to November at Children's Hospital in Vancouver. Fortunately the Squamish community stepped in, with the firefighters and RCMP donating funds raised during the annual Guns & Hoses event toward the Butcher family, and with Valleycliffe elementary students raising $2,000 in a penny drive.It was at the hospital that the Butchers met Heather Burnett, publicist and co-ordinator for the non-profit charity, Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation.Every year, the foundation takes a group of children on a complementary "life brightening" day of adventure on the Rocky Mountaineer train, from Vancouver to Whistler.This year Briana was among the 13 children who, along with their families, made the journey on the train up to Whistler. But it was no ordinary train ride."The kids had a blast on the way up," said Burnett. "We had entertainers - there was a cartoonist who drew each kid at least twice, and Fannie who sang, did a magic show, and made animals out of balloons."Once the train reached Whistler, the face-painted children disembarked, and headed for the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for some ice cream. From there, it was all smiles as the group loaded onto a gondola and went to the top of Whistler Mountain, for a scavenger hunt."There was so much for the kids to do that they just stayed energized," said Burnett. Everyone wanted to go on the gondola, which doesn't normally happen."The children received backpacks from the Rocky Mountaineer, complete with a conductor's hat, binoculars, a disposable camera, and a book. For Briana, the trip offered her a chance to forget about the pain, therapy and medication she has to take every day. "It was the most fun we've had in a long time," said Kathryn. "It was a nice break and nice not to think about anything but that."
