Variety BC funding helps families afford essential equipment, like a new adaptive bike for Hunter
Eight-year-old Hunter is happiest when he’s outside — jumping on the trampoline or racing around on his bike. “He’s always sensory-seeking,” his mom, Lizzy says. “He’s always wanting to wrestle, to play with his sisters.”
The youngest of three children, Hunter lives with his family in Nanaimo, where Lizzy was born and raised. When he was around 18 months, Lizzy noticed his development had shifted and he began losing his vocabulary. Hunter was diagnosed with autism at around age two, just before the pandemic.
Today, Hunter has limited verbal communication and high support needs. “He requires 24/7 care,” Lizzy explains. “Even going to the playground is a whole event for our family.”
Hunter attends an adaptive life skills program through his school, designed to meet children where they are. He also participates in multiple therapies each week, including occupational therapy.
Hunter has a rare condition called congenital mirror movement disorder. “It affects how his body moves,” explains Lizzy. “He’s not left or right-handed because his hands mimic each other, like a mirror.” Everyday tasks — from holding a spoon to coordinating movement and balance — require intense concentration.
That’s why Hunter’s occupational therapist suggested an adaptive tricycle to support his gross motor development, balance and core strength.
But adaptive equipment comes with a significant cost. Hunter requires a bike with a high-back seat, a low frame he can climb onto easily and three wheels for stability — not the kind of bike that can be picked out at Canadian Tire.
“Adaptive equipment is almost treated like a luxury but it’s a necessity,” Lizzy says. Funding options are limited. Hunter receives just enough government funding to cover one type of regular therapy — never mind multiple therapies or additional equipment. While searching for other options, Lizzy discovered that Variety BC provides funding for adaptive equipment for kids with complex health needs. She applied and within a few weeks, Hunter was approved for a grant.
“The bike gives him independence and inclusion,” says Lizzy. “He bikes with his sisters and the neighbourhood kids. We never thought we’d see that.”
In 2025 alone, Variety BC supported close to 200 children on Vancouver Island, providing more than $420,000 in grant funding for essential therapies, education support, equipment and more. The impact of accessing these types of resources is profound.
“Kids like Hunter still deserve to experience childhood,” says Lizzy. “Watching him finally be included in something so simple, yet so meaningful has been so nice. We’re very grateful for the bike because it’s not something we could afford on top of missing work and paying for therapies.”