Kingston girl one of the faces of CHEO Foundation campaign

9-year-old Amelia is recovering from a rare spine tumour.

The spotlight is on a Kingston girl two years after a scary situation for her family.

9-year-old Amelia Clarke is one of three children being shown across Eastern Ontario as part of the 2026 Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Foundation's Kids These Days campaign.

Amelia tells us how she ended up being on posters and billboards.

Amelia was jumping on a trampoline last summer when she fell down to the ground. Her parents took her to a doctor after complaining about feeling a pain in her neck. 

Doctors at CHEO discovered that Amelia had a rare aneurysmal non-cancerous bone cyst that had been quietly hollowing out two vertebrae in her spine. She had to wear a neck brace for the first nine weeks then undergo treatments to help rebuild the bone.

Her mother Jill says the next few months proved to be an excruciating experience for Amelia and the family.

The Clarkes received some good news in July that the bone has fully healed and the tumour was gone. Though Jill says Amelia still needs help walking and has to get regular check-ups by doctors to see how her recovery is progressing.

Amelia's story of strength and determination got the attention of staff at the CHEO Foundation.

President and CEO Steve Read says they wanted the campaign to put a focus on patients living outside the Ottawa area.

Jill says it wasn't difficult convincing her daughter to appear in the ads.

Jill, her husband John, and Amelia were able to see the campaign before it launched earlier this month.

Jill says the last few months have been kind of overwhelming between the treatments and the promotional appearances but they have been able to manage.

Amelia says she hopes her story inspires other children that they can overcome anything.

This is the third year of the CHEO Foundation's Kids These Days campaign. Ads can be seen around Kingston on billboards, bus shelters, television, radio, and digital platforms.

Story by Ken Hashizume