Mollypenny, CHEO’s much loved therapy clown, retires in October
Posted Sep 11, 2022 10:00:00 PM.
The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) is going to have some big, floppy shoes to fill as their beloved therapeutic clown, Mollypenny, is retiring in October.
“It’s time to climb aboard the spaceship MollyPop and travel into the future,” she said in a CHEO news release.
Mollypenny started at CHEO in 2001 when she was four, now that she is five, she plans to join her good friends in Galaxy Sprinkle, pictured for the first time by the James Webb Telescope on the outskirts of the Cartwheel Galaxy.
Mollypenny has provided immeasurable support to the thousands of families she has met at CHEO and said she has learned a lot from the incredible kids and families she has worked with over the years.
“I am thankful for their gifts of knowledge and laughter. It means the world, the galaxy, to me,” said Mollypenny, reaching into her pocket for a very large, polka dot handkerchief. “I’m also extremely grateful for the team here! They supported me in having fun, playing, being silly and much more, as I got to make meaningful relationships with the kids, which is really what it’s all about!”
Alex Munter, CHEO’s president and chief executive officer (CEO) said they are extremely grateful for all that Mollypenny has done for the children, youth and families at CHEO, providing support in some of their darkest moments.
“It’s such an understatement, but we will miss her. She is a star. And she belongs with all the other stars in her new home galaxy,” Munter added.
Kids and families can share their memories of Mollypenny until Oct. 31 using an online Kudoboard.
Mollypenny may be leaving on Halloween but she said one of the great things about being a clown is how easy space travel is.
“That means I may be able to come back to visit CHEO and my earthling friends every now and then,” she said.
She told The Sam Laprade Show on Sept. 15 the value being a clown has had on the kids.
“We can all use humour,” she said. “We can all use a day where we just dress up whether it's hair day or a ballerina day or something.”
She added Mollypenny could not operate by herself and gives credit to CHEO and the parents of the kids she has met througout the years.”
“I have a lot of help from the staff too, and it wasn't just me alone,” she said.
Listen to the full interview with Mollypenny below:
