SINCE October 1, Surrey’s Kaden Manji has been fundraising to help children who have special needs through the Variety’s Kid Champions program. Formerly known as the Kids Coin Drive for Variety, the new name highlights Variety’s belief that children who have special needs can achieve little victories every day and be leaders in their community, building teams of supporters and inspiring others to help Variety help more children.
When Kaden was only 36 hours old, doctors discovered a hole in his heart. Specialized medication helped to correct the condition without surgery, but other problems persisted. He was diagnosed with apraxia and specialists feared he would never learn to speak. Variety helped the family pay for expensive speech and language therapy which made a significant difference. When Kaden was two and a half years old, he finally said his first word: Mom. Thanks to early intervention and his supportive parents, Kaden is hitting milestones and accomplishing little victories every day. This is the fourth year Kaden has participated in the Variety’s Kid Champions program.
“Champions are people we look up to for inspiration,” says Bernice Scholten, Executive Director of Variety – The Children’s Charity. “Variety’s Kid Champions are encouraging their communities to help them help more children who have special needs. It takes teamwork to make a difference and by taking the lead, our champions are achieving little victories every day.”
There are many ways to support Kaden: by donating at the Variety coin boxes in all IGA, BMO and Buy-Low locations; donating online to the champions’ fundraising pages at variety.bc.ca; or becoming a corporate sponsor raising funds through your business or by matching community donations. For more information contact David Coons, Director, Fund Development at 604.320.0505 or david.coons@variety.bc.ca.
Variety – The Children’s Charity, along with its donors, provides funding for life-saving medical care and services, life-changing mobility and communication equipment and therapies, as well as life-enriching education and experiences to children who have special needs, helping them to achieve their own little victories.
For more information on how you can support Variety -The Children’s Charity, visit:
variety.bc.ca
