On November 14, starting at 6 a.m., teacher and YouTuber Adam Butter will carry a school desk 43 kilometers from Hespeler to McMaster Children’s Hospital to raise $10,000 for pediatric oncology.
How far would you go to give back to the hospital that saves your child’s life? For Adam Butter, teacher and YouTuber, the answer is taking on a mission that is equal parts difficult and meaningful: carrying a school desk more than 40 km all the way from Hespeler to McMaster Children’s Hospital.
We had the chance to hear from Adam directly on his mission to raise money for McMaster Children’s Hospital. Adam’s son, Wade, battled and fought cancer from the ages of 3-5 with the help of McMaster Pediatric Oncology Centre. Every single dollar raised from this fundraiser will support Pediatric Oncology at McMaster Children’s Hospital, helping provide specialized cancer care, cutting-edge equipment, and family support for the next child in need.
What made you so committed to giving back?
For my family, this is personal. Our son, Wade, was diagnosed with leukemia at age three and treated at McMaster.
One day, Wade was receiving a transfusion, and his older brother John was coming to the hospital. We worried that seeing the transfusion bag might upset him. A nurse overheard us and made a little cover with a Superman logo to put over the bag. That small kindness showed us how much the team cared about our whole family.
Wade is cancer-free now, and I want anyone else who has to go through this to revise the same level of care and compassion that we did.
Why a school desk?
A school desk stands for the ordinary things every kid deserves: learning, laughing with friends, and just being a kid. Cancer can take that ordinary away. I’m carrying the desk to McMaster to help families through that.
How can you help?
The walk is planned for November 14, 2026, weather permitting. Local businesses are pledging donations for every kilometer Adam completes, with bonus donations unlocking when he reaches the hospital finish line. Right now Adam had achieved 58% of his goal! Our goal is to help raise awareness and get him to $10,000!
The event will be live streamed. You can follow along live, post messages of support to fuel Adam's steps, and donate in real-time as every kilometer is ticked off the map!
Every donation helps!
Donations to the official MacKids Desk Challenge fundraiser are open until December 15, 2026.
Thank you so much for your support!