Members of the Chatham-Kent Professional Firefighters Association will be spending April raising funds, in-house, to support a new autism program offered by the Children’s Treatment Center of Chatham-Kent.
Firefighter Steve Amblin said the local firefighters’ association supports a lot of other great causes include breast cancer awareness, Movember for men’s health and muscular dystrophy.
Since April is Autism Awareness Month, Amblin said, “I thought this would be a good opportunity to do a fundraiser for autism.
“My son has autism and the children’s center does a lot of amazing things for a lot of people,” he added.
Amblin said a lot of firefighters have used the services of the treatment center and know others who have benefitted from the centre’s programs.
Lisa Caron, fund development officer with the Children’s Treatment Center Foundation, said the money raised by local firefighters will go to the new Early Entry to School Program that began in March at the treatment centre.
“It’s a transition program for children that are three to six years old and helps them transition into school.”
She said the program runs until August and then the children go into Kindergarten or Grade 1.
“The funds raised from this month will help with resources within the program, such as sensory toys,” Caron said. “It will be really helpful for that program and the kids in it.”
The firefighters’ association has made up T-shirts featuring a puzzle piece on the forehead, which is a symbol for autism. Amblin said the T-shirt also features many puzzle pieces of different colors on the back, because the autism spectrum is very large with many aspects to it, so “every different puzzle piece fits everybody a little different.”
The plan is to expand fundraising into the public for next year, Amblin said.
But he added it would be greatly appreciated if anyone wants to make a donation to the program as part of the firefighters’ association’s fundraiser.
Caron said donations can be made online at www.ctcf-ck.com or by calling 519-354-0520.