Variety Telethon celebrates 50 years

His rapid breathing told Salima something was wrong with her newborn baby. Within 36 hours Kaden was rushed by helicopter to hospital in Vancouver. He had a hole in his heart. It seemed surgery was the only option.
Thankfully, medication closed the hole, but it took six weeks to fully heal. After two months in the hospital, his parents were able to take their baby home.
Kaden was diagnosed with apraxia – a speech disorder. Without immediate intervention, he faced the possible severe developmental and learning challenges.
The costs for speech and language therapy is expensive. Kaden’s family didn’t know how they were going to pay for it.
Then they discovered Variety - The Children’s Charity.
Variety helps families financially across B.C. with children who have special needs. Since 2010, Variety has distributed more than $18 million in funding to families and organizations in B.C.
“At Variety, we believe kids with special needs are champions, and we’re inspired by their courage and determination,” says Kristy Gill, Variety’s executive director. 
Variety helped to pay for Kaden’s speech and language therapy, and after two years, he said his first word. It was “mom”.
Today Kaden is a happy and healthy nine year old. As one of Variety’s Kid Champions, he regularly fundraises for the charity. 
On February 13 and 14 he’ll be working alongside White Spot Executive Chef Danny Markowicz in a special Valentine’s Day Brunch cooking segment of Variety’s 50th annual Show of Hearts Telethon on Global BC. 
For more information, visit variety.bc.ca.

 

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