We believe that every child should have the freedom of mobility, communication and independence. Many children who have special needs require expensive, highly-specialized equipment to provide them with these basic functions.
Variety Freedom provides financial assistance for these mobility and communication devices, equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, specialized bicycles, prosthetics, hearing devices and specially equipped vans. This equipment can provide these children with increased mobility, independence and freedom. It also allows them improved interaction with family and friends.
Through Variety Freedom, Variety has supported numerous organizations as well as individual children throughout British Columbia. Variety provided grants to the Vancouver Oral Centre to bring Audio Verbal technology to children in remote areas. Variety supported the Autism Support Dogs Society to provide special training for dogs that are placed with children who have Autism. The Reach Development Centre also received a Variety grant for the development of the Bicycle Loan Program with Variety Freedom Concept Bikes which loans specialized bicycles to children in wheelchairs who would not otherwise experience the freedom and joy of riding a bicycle.
A story: A world without Variety?
Variety – The Children’s Charity asked the North Fraser Therapeutic Riding Association (NFTRA) what their world would look like without Variety?
Barbara Desjardins, Program Coordinator explains, “Variety’s influence is literally everywhere we look at our facility. Our horse-riding association began approximately five years ago when Variety donated the funds for a hydraulic lift in our mounting area. This made therapeutic riding accessible to riders who were confined to wheelchairs, and had not been previously able to mount. I am always quick to point out how stirring a visual it is, to see an empty wheel chair beside the mounting block and a child riding away on a beautiful horse – their Equine Therapist.
“More recently Variety provided a large portion of the funds to purchase a small tractor, which has many benefits, saving sore backs and aching muscles with the functions that it can so easily perform. None were more effective than this past winter when it was used to plough the seemingly endless snow from our very long driveway and parking area – thus making our facility clear and safe for our disabled riders, their families and volunteers.
“An even more direct benefit to riders and their families was Variety’s commitment to fund therapeutic riding lessons for children for whom the cost was a challenge. In all, fifteen children have had their lessons paid for a full year by Variety.
“It is our great pleasure to be the recipient of Variety’s warm and caring generosity. I would also like to add that we at NFTRA recognize the tremendous skill, work, time and commitment that allows Variety – The Children’s Charity to provide so very much to so very many”.
