Special needs student returns the favour

Living with a disability isn’t easy, as Rosalie Rasmussen knows this all to well.

The Vincent Massey Collegiate student suffers from a form of lumbar muscular dystrophy. Fortunately for her, Rasmussen has received help from the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation, who have provided her with with some specially adapted equipment for her home and school.

Now Rosalie is returning the favour. Along with the Key Club at Vincent Massey School, Rasmussen hopes to raise $3,000 for a specially modified bike for Sammy Stefaniuk, a five-year-old living with decreased tone in his legs.

“This is going to be the best day of his life so far because we are giving him the gift of mobility, the gift of going out with his friends,” Rasmussen said.

“Every kid wants a bike and wants to be able to everything else others are doing. It really sucks to sit on the sidelines.”

The modified bike the Key Club is raising for will be used to increase the stamina and strength in Sammy’s legs over time.

“Sammy had the chance to trial the Freedom Concepts MINI bike and he was thrilled to find that he could ride and steer it,” said Pauline Reynolds, media relations for the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation.

“His feet could reach the pedals and a direct-drive feature means that his hips and knees will be exercised even if the bike is pushed.”

The Key Club hopes to raise the funds for the bike through door-to-door canvassing, aluminum can collection and participating in the annual RBC Cruisin’ Down the Crescent event.

“I’m glad everyone is getting out there and doing their part for such a wonderful organization,” Rasmussen said.

“It is important because it helps kids get physical and in the face of adversity it helps you get out there and do all the things you want to do with a little bit of help.”

The Children’s Rehabilitation Centre is the fundraising arm of the Rehabilitation Centre for Children. Its main goal as a charity is to secure funding for equipment requested by therapists for children.

“It was good news to hear this funding would be arriving because it wasn’t in our budget to spend $3,000 on a bike, so we are very grateful,” said Renate Stefaniuk, Sammy’s mom.

Reynolds applauds the initiative Rasmussen took in getting the campaign for Sammy off the ground.

“It is nice to see Rosalie recognizes the amount of assistance and help she has received over the years and is honoured to give that back to someone else, it is just a beautiful case of paying it forward,” Reynolds said.