Children with disabilities and their families were thrilled by a visit from hockey legend Trevor Linden at a very special Let’s Play playdate yesterday. Linden, who is a board member of the TELUS Community Board, came to present a cheque to the Let’s Play program and meet the participants. He even took time to play some wheelchair ball hockey and wheelchair rugby with the group.
“We are so grateful to the TELUS Vancouver Community Board for both their support and the visit from Trevor Linden,” said BC Wheelchair Basketball Society Interim Managing Director Sian Blyth. “He took time to meet each child personally and was so patient playing some wheelchair sports, signing autographs and posing for photos.”
The Let’s Play program helps children with physical disabilities experience the many physical and social benefits of play. So far, over 120 children with disabilities across the province have accessed specially designed sports wheelchairs through the program and over 2000 additional children have benefitted from the Let’s Play schools program. The Let’s Play program also provides schools and families with the resources to help children with disabilities play safely with their able-bodied peers.
At the event, Linden discussed why he was proud to work with TELUS.
“TELUS is more than just a communications company,” he said. “I don’t know of another organization that gives back so much to the community and supports so many different programs. It’s at the heart of what they do.”
Thanks to the grant from the TELUS Vancouver Community Board, the Let’s Play program will be able to reach more participants, host more Let’s Play playdates and purchase more equipment.
BC Wheelchair Basketball Society would like to give a special thanks to Sunny Hill Children's Health for providing the venue and for being a strong supporter of the Let's Play program.
