03/02/2022
Children’s Charity Event coming to Drayton Valley. Organized by Samantha Dingwall
In August of 2021 Kent and I decided to team up with Variety - Children's charity of Alberta to build and donate a top-of-the-line ride-on adaptive toy cars to a child with severe disabilities. Each vehicle is modified to meet the specific needs of each recipient child. Variety donates these vehicles with the help of sponsors to children all over Alberta. Some of the past recipients have been from this community.
I have already had an amazing response from this community
The Event will be July 22, 2022, and we are currently looking for more sponsors. This charity/event gives the businesses the opportunity to be able to give the gift of mobility and independence to a child who require 100% assistance to always move and to see firsthand the immediate impact of their donation. If you are interested in getting involved, please read below for more information, if you have any questions, please send me a message
Our Go Baby Go Experience
When we have donated to other charities in the past usually, we write a cheque, get the tax receipt in the mail and that's it. Not the case with this charity, this is hands on.
On January 8, 2022 (event day) we had no idea what we were walking into. We were given a box, a drill, a bag of 3D printed parts, company decals and with the help of the Varity crew we physically assembled, rewired & modified the car. We met the recipient family, did an interview and seen firsthand the immediate impact of our donation. (Nothing could have prepared me for that special moment)
Our recipient was Baize, he and his family are from Fort MacMurray, they drove down to Red Deer (where the event was held) to collect the car. He is a sweet 4-year-old boy with a very rare brain disorder that delays all aspects of growth. He cannot move without being carried or pushed in a stroller. For him he required a specialized seat and hand controls to operate the vehicle. His parents explained that this will give Baize some independence and freedom to be a "normal" kid. I could talk for hours about this meeting. We spent a few hours watching all the families receive and drive their new cars around. The joy I witnessed on every kid's face will forever be burned into my heart. Honestly, there are no words to describe how much of an impact that had on me.
Go Baby Go gave away 5 cars to very deserving families that day. These children are from all walks of life, and all have very different disabilities. The sponsors were very different as well, trucking companies, a radio station, a grocery store, and a car dealership we all came together to support these 5 kids. In hindsight this was such a small thing we did, BUT to be able to alter a life in such a big way makes it worth every penny.
There are currently 15 children who qualify for a vehicle on the wait list, and it is my hope that we can get them all into a car.
Please reach out to find out how you can get involved
