A Vernon Champ is celebrating 70 years of support to those living with an amputation.
Jackson Point, nine, has returned from the War Amps 2016 B.C. Child Amputee (CHAMP) seminar in Victoria.
The seminar brought together child amputees from across the province while also marking the 70th anniversary of the War Amps Key Tag Service.
Point was born a partial left-hand amputee and, as a Champ, is eligible to receive financial assistance for the cost of artificial limbs and devices.
By attending seminars, Champs and parents learn about the latest in artificial limbs, dealing with teasing and bullying and parenting an amputee child.
“The seminars have boosted Jackson’s confidence and they let him know he is not the only one with an amputation,” said mom Carmen.
“We’ve all learned so much at the seminars and it’s comforting to know that as Jackson gets older, CHAMP will be there every step of the way.”
The War Amps Key Tag Service was launched in 1946 so returning war amputees could not only work for competitive wages, but also provide a service to Canadians that would generate funds for the association’s many programs.
The Key Tag Service continues to employ amputees and people with disabilities, and has returned more than 1.5 million sets of lost keys.
Each key tag has a confidentially coded number.
Should the keys be lost, the finder can call the toll-free number on the back of the tag, or deposit them in any mailbox, and the keys will be returned to the owner by bonded courier.
The War Amps receives no government grants and its programs are possible through public support of the Key Tag and Address Label Service.