Derrick says some very nice things

SooToday.com received the following letter and photo from a very grateful member of our community.

We are pleased to share the contents with our readers.

************************* This year I got to participate in the Easter Seals Telethon, both as a background helper and as a participant in many previous shows.

My interview with Jill Braido brought back a flood of memories.

They included camp at Kirkland Lake, the excitement of flying there and back, pontoon boating, fishing and horseback riding.

These were wonderful experiences for a child whose exposure to new and different things had been limited until then.

I also enjoyed participating in bands, drama, arts and crafts. These opportunities permitted me to have as much independance as possible.

The counsellors were awesome and allowed us to grow and spread our wings.

I made some very good friends and will never forget these experiences. It costs a fortune to send each child to camp and this is just one of the opportunities that Easter Seals supports.

The Easter Seals organziation also provides expensive equipment as the kids grow, as well as trips to major medical centres. I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to some of the broadcasters who participate in the telethon year after year.

Special thanks are extended to Jill Braido, Jim Cronin, Terry McPhee and Lydia McNiece.

They have seen many of us grow up from children to adults. I also want to thank the Rotary Club for stepping in and putting on the events for Sault Ste. Marie after our Easter Seals office was closed.

Similar thanks go to Shaw Cable which makes the show available for our local viewers. My final thanks go to all those people in Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma who care enough to donate dollars to make the lives of children with a variety of disabilities better.

We are all naturally gifted. Derrick Lavallee Alumnus of Easter Seals

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