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Message from the President
 Dear CPABC Members,
Spring 2014 has been certainly very busy for the CPABC. It has been the "good" kind of busy since we are making good progress on a lot of fronts.
We started off spring with our 5th Life Without Limits Connection series that was held in Burnaby on March. Our members learned how to cook and eat healthier from our guest chefs and nutritionist. I hope everyone who attended enjoyed the event.
Our Spring Yoga for Youth and Dance Without Limits programs have commenced in April and will run through June 2014. So far, we have 12 yoga and 15 dance participants. If you have not signed up, please do so!
In June 22, 2014, the CPABC will be taking part in the 2014 Scotiabank Charity Challenge to help raise funds and awareness about cerebral palsy. So far, we have 14 registrants raising $5655 to date. I have also registered for the challenge! You can help me fundraise here. Let's cheer on our runners on June 22, 2014!
On the governance front, I would like to thank our outgoing officers, Craig Langston, Kelvin Tse, and Phil Der for their dedication and contribution to the CPABC. I would like to welcome Rebecca Levi, Fiona York and Gilles De Condappa. Rebecca is a lawyer who works for Pacific Business & Law Institute. Gilles is a fellow Charted Professional Accountant who works for George & Bell Consulting. A big welcome to Fiona who used to be our Grant Writer! Welcome a-board!
Through the hard work of Feri and her team, we have received a $6,000 grant from Vancity for establishing pre-employment and life-skills training program. I believe that this grant will enable us to start the last phase of our 4Rs Strategic Plan: to assist those living with CP to realize their place as equals within a diverse society. We will use the Vancity grant to develop programs that will prepare people with CP to enter the workforce. I believe we, the people with CP, have a lot of to offer to the labour force and the economy. We can prove the concept of "Return on Disability" that was developed by Rich Donovan, a former Wall Street Trader who has CP.
The next few months will be even busier for the CPABC Board and staff as we develop this new pre-employment program. In addition, we are continuing to work on our 60th anniversary celebration which will be held in Fall 2014. I'm excited!
Don’t stop believing,
Andy Yu, CA
President of CPABC
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Variety - The Children's Charity
A big thank you to Variety - The Children's Charity for their $4000 contribution to our Dance Without Limits and Yoga Therapy programs. Our dance and yoga programs are platforms for youth with cerebral palsy to express themselves creatively and to be active. We appreciate the support of Variety in recognizing the importance of creating opportunities for people with CP to live life without limits.
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Fraternal Order of Eagles, Ladies Auxiliary to Northwest Aerie
We would like to thank the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Ladies Auxiliary to Northwest Aerie for donating $2,000 to our programs and services. This contribution will allow us to provide more within our community and for people living with cerebral palsy.
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CPABC would like to express our thanks to Vancity for their generous contribution of $6000 as part of their Community Project Grant. This grant is part of Vancity's Shared Success program which looks to share profits with members of the community. It is encouraging to see community members engage with our efforts to provide opportunities and support for people living with cerebral palsy. We appreciate the kind contribution from Vancity and would like to give our deepest thanks.
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Children's Health Foundation of Vancouver Island
On behalf of CPABC we would like to thank Children’s Health Foundation for their $3000 contribution to support the therapeutic yoga program for youth aged 13-24 living with cerebral palsy in the Victoria area. The therapeutic yoga program is an opportunity for youth with cerebral palsy to explore yoga in a supportive environment. We are grateful for the support from the Children’s Health Foundation as it is a positive contribution to our community.
For more information, contact supportworker@bccerebralpalsy.com
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Children's Health Foundation presenting the Cerebral Palsy Association with a $3000 yoga grant
L to R: Linda Hughes (CEO), Bob Campbell, Bill Snell, Margot McLaren Moore (Chair), Sandra Hudson, Dean Freeman (Vice Chair).
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Scotiabank Charity Challenge
CPABC will be participating in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge. Join us in the half marathon or the 5k fun/walk and choose the Cerebral Palsy Association of BC as your charity of support. 100% of the funds you raised will go to CPABC to continue and expand our programs and services. Help us raise awareness of cerebral palsy and create a Life Without Limits for people living with CP. Skip the frap for a day, and donate $5 to the charity challenge, every dollar counts! To learn more about the Charity Challenge or to donate, visit www.vancouverhalf.com
Date: Sunday, June 22, 2014
Place: Half marathon starts at UBC Thunderbird Arena
5K fun run/walk starts at Stanley Park Fish House
Time: Half marathon @ 7:30 am
5K fun run/walk @ 9:30 am
Register: Click here
Support CPABC, you will get a $5 discount on your registration fee
The 5k course is accessible for day and powered wheelchairs, and strollers and dogs are permitted on in the 5k event. The online registration deadline is June 16 at 11:59pm, participants registering after will have to sign-up at the expo on June 10-12. For more information about how to register and support CPABC, please contact Sandeep at (604) 408-9484 or email at sandeep@bccerebralpalsy.com
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Rand uses a custom-made athletic wheelchair that is lightweight and agile for the races. Jason explains that it is not easy to find these specialty chairs, with the cheapest on the market being $3500. As a result, Jason started to build custom chairs with scrap parts that were interchangeable. “I wanted to build specialty wheelchairs that would allow Rand and others with disabilities to compete in marathons but were also affordable with parts that were easily accessibleâ€. The custom-wheelchairs designed and built by Jason cost around $500-$1000 each and he donates these chairs to people who can’t afford them so that they can have the opportunity to compete in runs.
The best part of the vacation for me was that I was able to spend most of my time in the resort’s gorgeous pool. I was fortunate enough to have other tourists staying at the resort along with my friend and my personal caregiver who helped to transfer me in and out of the pool. I called all the people who helped me at the resort my “guardian angels†because without them I would not have been able to go into the pool. 
