Dozens of racers from across the Niagara community squeezed onto the popular plastic ride-on toy car in support of the Centre’s annual Help Kids Shine campaign.
The race, which took place at the Gale Centre in Niagara Falls on Tuesday, May 31 from 4 to 7 p.m., marked the end of Niagara Children’s Centre’s month-long fundraising campaign. The relay-style event featured 19 teams of four adults competing on plasma cars by wiggling their way towards the finish line.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said Oksana Fisher, CEO, Niagara Children’s Centre. “Plasma Cars bring out a sense of nostalgia among competitors and the event is a great way to engage with local residents and businesses.”
While the race takes place over just a few hours, it’s more than a one day initiative. Each of the participating teams take on the responsibility of fundraising a minimum of $550 for the Centre in the weeks leading up to the event.
Team Unicorn, comprised of Todd, Amelia and Kimberly Melville, along with Lauren Skeoch and Rhonda Silwa, raised $1,000 for the Centre with their fundraising efforts.
“Adults riding plasma cars is guaranteed to be good entertainment and it’s a really fun way to raise funds for the Children’s Centre,” said Kimberly Melville.
Their team name is a tribute to her daughter, Amelia, who is often seen wearing a unicorn headband or something unicorn related.
“She is also a bit of a unicorn herself,” said Melville. “There is something magical about her, her energy.”
Amelia has a rare condition called Zellweger spectrum disorder and has been receiving care from the Centre for nearly nine years. She has accessed services such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, augmentative communication and Centre’s gait clinic.
“Even within her disorder she is exceeding expectations, making her a unicorn within her disorder,” she said.
Melville has also been involved in the Centre’s Family Advisory Network since its inception and volunteers as a support parent with other Centre families.
During the event, the Centre announced the result of its Help Kids Shine community fundraiser, which totalled $267,200 – the largest in the Centre’s 58-year history. The number is expected to grow over the next week as last-minutes donations from the community are tallied.
“We’re overjoyed by the support from the local community,” said Fisher. “By investing in the Children’s Centre, you are ensuring that children and families have access to services that are going to improve their quality of life.”
Fisher added that as demand continues to grow for the Centre’s services, funds raised during Help Kids Shine provide immediate financial support to help more children and their families in Niagara. It also ensures additional programs not covered by provincial government funding, such as recreation therapy, behavioural consultation services, family-to-family support programs and aquatics can continue to thrive at the Centre.
Throughout the month of May, staff, volunteers and ambassador families shared their stories online and through radio interviews with presenting sponsor Bell Media stations Newstalk 610 CKTB, 97.7 HTZ FM and Move 105.7.
“Educating the Niagara community about the therapy and support services the Centre provides embraces inclusion at its most fundamental level,” said Fisher. “The children we support are a part of our neighborhoods and by making a donation to the Centre, you are contributing to the success, and the inclusion of all people in the community.”
Each year, more than 5,800 children and youth in Niagara with physical, developmental and communicative delays are supported by the range of services offered at the Centre. Those services are made possible, in part, by the Centre’s annual Help Kids Shine fundraising campaign that encourages community donations throughout the month of May to support to programs and services for families.
While the 19th annual Help Kids Shine campaign has come to a close, the Children’s Centre still accepts donations either by phone, in person or online at helpkidsshine.ca.
To learn more about its services, visit niagarachildrenscentre.com.