Last month, Caitlin and Shaneef were filmed by CityTV for a “Marathon Minute” feature for the Scotiabank Calgary Marathon. We have been eagerly awaiting this video, and are thrilled to share it with you today!
Interested in joining Team DDRC or supporting us with a donation? Visit our team profile page!
We’re taking our training for the Scotiabank Calgary Marathon pretty seriously. Here are some of the ways we’re working to get ready:
Interested in joining Team DDRC or supporting us with a donation? Visit our team profile page!
At least, that’s what the people at the Scotiabank Calgary Marathon have told us.
Since the inception of the Charity Challenge in 2010, the Calgary Marathon committee has been shining the spotlight on local charities, allowing runners to turn their race into a fundraising event. Of the 70 charities who have taken advantage of this partnership in 2015, the marathon committee has chosen THREE organizations to promote as “featured charities.” Can you guess who they chose?
That’s right, they chose us! And as you can see, we’re pretty excited. And we’re hoping that this added exposure will help us to reach our team goals:
This is where you come in. If you’re a walker, a runner, or or would like to become one, consider signing up for one of the many race options, and create a fundraising profile with Team DDRC! Fundraising is completely optional, and registering with a charity gets you a discounted fee. Race day is Sunday, May 31.
If running or walking isn’t your thing, you can support team DDRC with a financial donation. No contribution is too big or too small!
If you’ve got spirit (yes you do), come join our cheering squad at the Stampede grounds! No experience is necessary, just bring a big smile and a positive attitude!
We’ll continue to share information on the event as it draws nearer, but you can always contact the DDRC Fundraising Committee at (403) 240-3111 with questions.
For photos from last year’s event, click here.
Every year, as fall turns to winter, our Fund Development department puts together a special letter for our annual fundraising campaign. A program is chosen that would benefit from additional funding and, thanks to generous donors like yourself, we are able to make big improvements in the services we provide to support full community inclusion.
The last couple of years have been incredibly successful: in 2012, we raised over $25,000 to purchase SMART Boards for our Learning and Leadership program. In 2013, we had the aim of funding a new DDRC initiative: The Saturday Children’s Learning Program. Thanks to the generosity of many donors, that program is now underway, and will be available as a great resource to families and children in the new year. This year, we hope to better the lives of our clients by providing additional Positive Behaviour Support (PBS).
All DDRC front-line staff undergo PBS training, learning theories and strategies, as well as Nonviolent Crisis Intervention training, in order to best support clients with high behavioural needs. Our PBS Coordinator is on hand 5 days a week, developing support strategies for staff to implement when a client puts themselves or others at risk.
Additional PBS funding will give the 60+ adults clients who require PBS supports more access to the resources they require to help minimize their level of risk, reach their personal goals, and improve all aspects of their daily living and quality of life.
We recently got some of our staff and clients together to talk about why what we do at the DDRC is important. Here are our reasons, and some different ways you can help support the agency.
If you are interested in donating, please visit http://ddrc.ca/index.php/getinvolved/donations.
![[Name] Sumner reacts to receiving sensory toys.](https://www.everyonebelongs.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/sumner.jpg)
Each year, the Watson Family Foundation provides the DDRC with funding to be distributed to families with limited or non-existent means to help improve and sustain the quality of life for their child with a developmental disability.
This year, we were given the opportunity to assist seven local families by providing them with specialised sensory equipment such as weighted blankets, wiggle seats, sensory toys, and emWave2, a heart rhythm monitor that aids in tracking possible emotional outbursts or anxiety attacks due to stressful situations.
Kelly has been dropping off the items over the past two weeks. One of the families she delivered to said that they are extremely excited to see how the sensory items will help out with their son’s behaviour and anxiety.
“It was like an early Christmas,” Kelly said. “Mom was so happy her eyes even welled up when she was watching her son go through all the items.”
Applications are received and reviewed each year by a committee of four at the DDRC. In previous years, funding has been provided for medical supplies, communication devices, eye glasses, and laptops and tablets preloaded with software such as Dragon, a speech recognition program, enabling children to be more successful and independent at school.
If your family or a family you know could benefit from the Watson Family Foundation fund distributed through the DDRC, please visit our website, or call Kara Garner-Welsh at (403) 240-7312 for more information.