Variety Week on Global BC 2021 – Day 5

It’s the final day of the 2021 Variety Week!

The sixth annual Variety Week finishes Friday, highlighting stories from children and families around the province who have been helped by Variety – the Children’s Charity.

Viewers can donate to help kids in B.C. through Variety by calling 310-KIDS or donating online.

And thanks to partnerships with organizations and matching donors from across the province, viewers will have a chance to double their donations throughout the week.  They can also make an automatic $20 contribution by texting KIDS to 45678.

Here are some of the stories we are sharing on the fifth and final day of Variety Week.

Layla has received a standing frame from Variety, just the latest piece of equipment over the years needed to make her life better. We speak with Andrea Callon from Motion, a company that provides accessibility equipment, everything from wheelchairs and standers to adaptive tricycles and walkers, for purchase or rental.

4:15 Variety Week: Specialized equipment makes a difference in kids’ lives

Eight-year-old Ilija has a condition that leaves his muscles weak and floppy. As a result, he is unable to support himself. He currently takes the bus to school in Burnaby every day, as the family cannot afford a vehicle that can transport Ilija’s wheelchair. Global was there as the family received its own Sunshine Family Van

6:32 Vancouver Week: Family needs wheelchair accessible vehicle

Thanks to generous donors, Variety was able to provide grants to 844 kids requiring things like wheelchairs, tutoring or speech and language therapies. We speak with Bonita Theron of Variety, who reviews all of the grant applications – and has the joy of telling families their grants have been approved.

6:06 Variety Week: Grants supplied in 2020 to 844 grateful families

Each of the four Nicholson children have some form of special need and suffers from autism, ADHD, OCD and anxiety disorders. Variety provides assistance with Occupational Therapy so the kids can create strategies and mechanisms to help them overcome their conditions.

2:31 Variety Week: Helping Smithers family with Occupational Therapy

Kelly, who was born without a pituitary gland and is legally blind, received a grant from Variety for an adaptive tricycle in May, and it has given him a whole new level of freedom. Kelly’s mom said it took a huge financial stress off their shoulders, as both her and her husband missed out on work because of COVID.

3:07 Variety Week: Legally blind boy receives adaptive tricycle