Local families who have received help are excited about the 50th annual Variety Show of Hearts Telethon this February.
Variety helped fund an iPad and an adapted tricycle for six-year-old Brody who lives in Parksville, for example.
"Lindsey knew that her second pregnancy was different, but it wasn't until Brody was born that doctors determined he had Down syndrome," said a news release. "Lindsey was worried that her son would have difficulty being accepted at school and would always be labeled as a child with a disability rather than a beautiful boy," but the iPad and bike have helped a lot. The iPad helped build his communication skills, with apps helping him learn to write his own name and improving his spelling and reading, which he now loves to do.
The Variety telethon has raised over $189 million for special needs children in B.C. over the last 50 years and is gearing up for the annual event Feb.13-14 on Global B.C. The lineup includes Aaron Pritchett, Jim Byrnes, Barney Bentall, Shari Ulrich and Chilliwack. Visit
variety.bc.ca for tickets or to donate.