Hyundai Hope on Wheels brings hope back to Western Canada

Hyundai Auto Canada and its nationwide network of more than 225 dealers have launched Year Two of the Hyundai Hope on Wheels program, committing over $4.1 million in 2026 to fund pediatric cancer research, clinical trials, and patient care initiatives across Canada. 

The 2026 cross-country tour opened in Western Canada with $650,000 in direct funding. Four $100,000 impact grants were presented to the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation, Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation, and Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba. 

New for 2026, Hyundai Hope on Wheels partnered with the C17 Council to award a $250,000 national research grant to Dr. Jongbok Lee at the University of Calgary. Dr. Lee’s research focuses on advancing CAR T-cell immunotherapy accessibility for children facing acute myeloid leukemia (AML). 

“Hyundai Hope on Wheels grants are about more than funding; they are about standing alongside families, supporting groundbreaking research, and helping create a future where no child has to face cancer,” stated Kirk Merrett, Director of Network Planning, Performance, and Customer Experience at Hyundai Canada. 

For Canadian automotive retailers, dealership managers, and OEM representatives, the initiative demonstrates how vehicle sales volume is leveraged to drive national community health partnerships.