UK family says first-ever Calgary Stampede will be unforgettable

11-year-old Oscar O'Grady has a rare heart condition and was put into contact with a UK charity, Promised Dreams, which brought the family to Calgary

A family from the United Kingdom said the trip of their dreams came true after their son with a rare medical condition had the chance to experience a truly heartwarming Calgary Stampede. 11-year-old Oscar O’Grady has a rare heart condition called hypoplastic left heart syndrome with atrial ventricular defect and has always been restricted on where he can travel, said his mother Daniela. Since Oscar is an avid horseback rider, the family always dreamed about visiting the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.

“We’ve always talked about the stampede and like that one day we would love to come but we haven’t been able to,” Daniela said. “Recently, his cardiologist said he’d be OK to fly here, and while Oscar’s doing really well, it was probably a good time to come over here.” The family was put into contact with a UK charity, Promised Dreams, which gave them the opportunity to make the trip across the pond from Wokingham to Calgary.

They landed on July 9 and had three whole days to take in the sights, sounds, and flavours with his family. Both Oscar and his younger brother Samuel agreed that their favorite parts of the Stampede so far have been the horse racing and bull riding at the rodeo, alongside all the kindness shown towards his family. “They’ve been really nice giving me gifts and they’ve been really nice,” Oscar said.

Since their arrival to Calgary, Oscar’s father Sean said everyone has been more welcoming that they could expect. It’s been one experience after another, and the whole family will never forget it. Oscar’s love for horseback riding started when he was three years old, during a time when he couldn’t do much because while he was waiting for operations, he said.

“It was a great activity that he loved doing and connecting with nature,” Sean said. While seeing the behind-the-scenes of the rodeo, the family connected with Crazy Cree Relay Team rider Tyrell Mcgilvery. Daniela added they were especially touched by Mcgilvery’s kindness after he gave the boys gifts, despite facing a difficult situation in his personal life.

“Tyrell was saying that he had a lot of merchandise that was sadly lost in his house fire recently, and so he gave the kids two of his own jerseys that he’d won races in recently, for good luck for the kids, goggles, horse whips because Oscar rides, and covers for their shoes,” Daniela said. “He showed them around with the horses as well, he put them on the horse and let them have a ride, and it’s just unbelievably special.” To return the favour Oscar said he was going to support Mcgilvery later in the day by wearing the jacket he was given and putting hand prints on his horse for the evening race.

After Stampede, the family will be heading to Banff to visit friends and family to make sure this is an unforgettable bucket list trip, Daniela said. Overall, the whole trip was beyond anything the family could have imagined, both parents said. “And to think that someone has done that for us, when we’re total strangers is incredible,” Daniela said.

Sean said he was blown away by the group of people that welcomed the family when they first arrived at the Delta downtown and support from the Calgary Stampede organization itself for ensuring the family had an enjoyable experience. For everyone that supported his family during their stay for the Calgary Stampede, Oscar said he would like to thank them. “Thank you for being so kind to us and letting us have this amazing experience,” Oscar said.

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