Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - July 29, 2006, Winnipeg, Manitoba Saturday july 29, 2006 editor Steve Pona 697-7292 b4 philanthropy giving a monthly look at philanthropy in Manitoba free the children foundation helps 17,000 kids a year move beyond their disability f fifteen year old Jessica Platt has a High tech Way of communicating with family friends and teachers. Platt who has cerebral palsy and gets around with the use of a wheel chair has a special tiny round sticker on her forehead that reflects a laser Light from a special tracker device Back at her Laptop computer. As Platt moves her head the reflected laser moves the cursor to various pre programmed items on the screen that allow her to talk with people. She can choose to Click on boxes that say phrases like lets go out or lets go kick sledding or lets go to the and if she needs to recline her Spe Cial wheelchair easily allows her grandparents to let her do that. Platt can do All this and More thanks to funding from the rehabilitation Centre for children foundation Rcck. The Rcck is the fundraising body for the rehabilitation Centre for children acc located in the former Shriner a Hospital at 633 Wellington cres. She has a Normal mind in a body that is trapped said Jessica a Grandfather John Platt. We have to do whatever we can to allow that body to and her grandmother Donna added she likes things that get her together with other the Platts Are just one of the 14,000 families with children with disabilities from Manitoba Nunavut Northwest Ontario and parts of Saskatchewan that Are helped by the rehabilitation Centre for children. The children ? the acc sees 17,000 each year ? have various disabilities including cerebral palsy developmental delay scoliosis amputees and Spina Bifid. Gay Kirby the Rcck a executive director said the acc is the Core ser vice for All of Manitoba a children with disabilities and the foundation is there to help. Most people Don to realize these Chil Dren live with disabilities every Day and most of what these children need Are not funded by government she said. The foundation is Here because Chil Dren need equipment not funded by government ministries of education and health. The goal is for the children to reach their full potential of living for example Kirby said while the government will fund Basic wheel chairs for children if they need a Light weight wheelchair its the Rcck that Steps in to help. The Rcck also helps pay for specialized wheelchair seats. Likewise Kirby said its up to the Rcck to fund computer Access tools adapted bicycles for children who nor Mally use wheelchairs communication devices and assessment and treatment equipment. The Rcck was created in 1981 after a bequest was Given by the estate of Leslie Arthur Barker to fund research relating to the development of special equipment for children with the Rcck is located in the georgian Home next door to the acc. The foundation continued to fund research at the acc until 1995, when it decided to also raise funds to pay for funding requests for equipment to allow them to increase their Independence. The Rcck holds annual fundraising events including cruising Down the Crescent where fashion meets Art and Spring into jazz plus myriad other fundraising activities during the year. As Well private companies and individuals also donate Money from fundraising efforts. Kirby said a recent Golf tournament raised the $40,000 needed to buy Power wheelchairs to keep at the acc. Now therapists can put the kids in these chairs to see whether they work for them and then order them she said. Up until now we be Only been Able to use catalogues before ordering these the Rcck also funds headrests and bolsters for wheelchairs the Moulds which used to make them Are now 30 years old. They were made to last five years and we re still using them Kirby said. We re trying to raise $70,000 to buy new from the minute Jessica Platt gets up in the morning devices provided by the foundation through the acc help her through her Day. The commode she uses has adaptations to it provided by the foundation. The standing frames and walkers she uses to help with weight bearing and mobility issues Are constructed by the acc. The standing Frame has wheels so we can move her around in it take her to the mall ? we even use it so we can dance with her says John Platt who also serves As the Rcck a president. A specially adapted bicycle allows Jessica to go out and pedal through the streets near her Home on the outskirts of the City. During the school year almost All of the specialized equipment is taken to her school to help her through her Aca Demic year. Behind and beside Jessica a head Are devices the family is trying out that How you can help there Are three ways to donate to the rehabilitation Centre for children foundation Call 475-5073 to put a donation on a credit card. Send a Check payable to the rehabilitation Centre for children foundation co 633 Wellington cres., Winnipeg my r3m 0a8. Go on line to and Click on donations. Will allow her to control the direction and turns on her Power wheelchair. It costs $2,000 for that. It costs $1,700 for a Daisy mount for her com Puter to be in front of her on her chair ? its just a piece of Metal with a joint and it costs that much John Platt said. Platt said his wife recently retired after decades of working in the Educa Tion system in Winnipeg. If not for the acc and the foundation and the equipment they provide Donna would to be retired because she would be continuing to work so we could pay for the equipment Jessica needs John Platt said. The acc has numerous clinics that Are assisted by the Rcck which also funds disability research. Recent examples of this Are a two year project to assess an intervention method for autistic children and an exploration of feeding and swallowing problems in children with Down syndrome. John Platt said he a glad that both the Rcck a volunteers and staff can help children like Jessica. The kids who not too Long ago would have been institutionalized Are in the Community and we want to provide for them he said. Without our volunteers wed be nowhere and our staff is just amazing.?. philanthropy briefs volunteers sought for horse Riding the Manitoba Riding for the disabled association is looking for volunteers to help with their fall classes. The horse Riding classes for children with disabilities Are held on monday and thursday evening from september to novem Ber. Volunteers interested in Side walking or leading the horse Are encouraged to come to the Volun Teer orientation being held on aug. 27 at 6 . At the Meadow Green Riding Academy at 1727 Loudon re. Volunteers should Wear cloth ing appropriate for a barn Atmos phere. For More information Call 925-5905 or go to the Arda web site at veggies for cancer research vegetable company Peak of the Market is holding its annual family fun Day on aug. 17 from 7 . To 5 . The event which is a fundraiser for cancer care Manitoba Fea Tures a free potato Pancake breakfast from 7 . To 9 ., and a free Perogey and Corn on the cob lunch from 11 . To 2 . Throughout the Day there will be free Pony rides a petting zoo giant slide jumper balloons and More. Everything is free with a donation to cancer care Manitoba. The com Pany is located at 1200 King Edward st., and free parking and a shuttle Are available at red River colleges East parking lot. Road to rehab Bike ride set the sixth annual Road to rehabilitation bicycle tour is being held on aug. 11 and 12 to raise funds for the rehabilitation Centre for children foundation. Cal Higgins and Les Wiens two local businessmen will Lead a group of bicyclists from Stonewall to Portage la Prairie after collecting pledge Money. One of the children this years tour is raising funds to help is a six year old boy who needs a special wheelchair seat which costs $1,603.15. All funds raised Are matched by investors group the company that employs the two men. To Date the annual fundraiser has raised $51,189 for the provinces children with special needs. To pledge the pair Call 475?5073. Record Harvest sought for kids Camps As Many As 100 combines will be trying to set a world record and raise Money for children scamps around the world this week. The world Harvest for kids event is being held on aug. 5 As part of the Winkler Centennial celebrations. The event which is raising Money for children scamps International is hoping the combines will be Able to Harvest a Quarter Section of land in 15 minutes or less. The Field is located on Hwy. 32 South of Winkler and the Day will also have entertain ment food and inflatable activities for children. For More information Call 204 331-4003 or email ;