48th Easter Seals Telethon Takes Place Sunday, September 13th

The 2020 Easter Seals Telethon will look a little different (with all Covid-19 precautions in place), but the same mission is at hand organizers say.

Easter Seals families need help more now then ever, as kids have been kept from their normal programming and therapy, families have realized that their homes are ill equipped for mobility equipment, and accessibility in their homes is limited. Easter Seals has experienced an increase in funding requests for equipment and want to answer that call during the telethon, which takes place Sunday, September 13th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on YourTV and Global Peterborough.

Easter Seals ambassador, Ryerson Beardmore, on his 10th birthday accomplishing his “Covid goal” of being able to swing on his own for the first time ever! (Photo courtesy Easter Seals Telethon)

You can still count on seeing familiar faces and telethon celebrity hosts including Stu Harrison, Graham Hart, Teresa Kaszuba, Mike Melnik and Catherine Hanrahan. Also, Easter Seals is utilizing Zoom this year with Caley Bedore, where you will get to visit with plenty of Easter Seals Kids and their families.

In addition, Easter Seals is excited to introduce their returning 2020 Easter Seals Ambassador Ryerson Beardmore (pictured). He is excited to chat with people about his summer and join in celebrating a milestone with him for his 10th birthday!

The annual Easter Seals Telethon celebrates success stories, showcases Easter Seals kids and their families, recognizes donors and sponsors, and raises funds for children and youth with physical disabilities.

Supporters can donate online here and local residents are encouraged to select the Peterborough webpage.

For the past 97 years, Easter Seals has played an important role in providing support for children and youth with physical disabilities from all ethnic and religious backgrounds.

Thanks to its generous donors, Easter Seals continues to offer programs to enable kids to experience freedom, independence and a sense of accomplishment. For more information or to donate, click here.

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6-Year-Old Ryerson Among Thousands That Joined Pokemon Go Party In Downtown Peterborough

Saturday's Pokemon Go party in downtown Peterborough was a hit, with thousands of people heading of all ages heading downtown to play. Among those was Peterborough's Dave Beardmore and his son Ryerson, who just turned 6 and is going into Grade 1.

Ryerson has cerebral palsy and it effects the muscle control on the left side of his body. But that hasn't prevented Ryerson—a member of the well known Peterborough Huskies special needs baseball team—from living a social and active life, including particpating in the Pokemon Go party.

Dave and Ryerson on George St. at Pokemon Go party

"Ryerson enjoyed doing the colouring competition and seeing people dressed up playing the game" Ryerson's dad Dave tells PTBOCanada. "Pokemon Go really is just something we do together."

Ryerson enjoying the colouring fun station at Pokemon Go party

Dave does tell PTBOCanada he wishes, like every video game, that there weren't more options for controls and settings for people with disabilities.

"A lot of functions in the game require the use of two hands and fine motor skills," Dave tells PTBOCanada. "Putting controls away from the centre of the screen and other options to catch the Pokemon would make the game more enjoyable for him."

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