Members of the CKFTO, Sara Stephens, occupational therapist, left; chairperson Laura Pierre-Escayg; developmental behavioural paediatrician Dr Natalie Dick; Team Hope founder Leslie Garcia, Team Hope media co-ordinator Helen Pounder and Team Hope fund-raising administrator LouAnn Maharaj.

The plight of children with special needs and their families is often pitied; their caregivers and advocates often endure a thankless task. But on June 27, a thank-you party was held at the Immortelle Children’s Centre, as the Hope Team (How Ordinary People Do Extraordinary Things) was celebrated for their fund-raising initiative, which led to an accumulation of $250,000.

The money was handed over to the Caribbean Kids and Families Therapy Organisation (CKFTO), a non-profit group, which, in its yearlong existence, has provided affordable professional therapeutic services to children from birth to 21 years of age.

Friends meet
In a cosy setting which offered a level of intimacy, stimulating conversation and the cheque presentation took centre stage. The people whose seven-month challenge to raise funds for the CKFTO enjoyed food, drinks and the company of the new friends they had met along the way.

The 60 members of Team Hope who’d first been introduced to the idea via an information party at the now defunct La Trattoria Restaurant on Tragarete Road weren’t all present. However, founder Leslie Garcia, media co-ordinator Helen Pounder and the group’s fund-raising administrator LouAnn Maharaj were on hand to present the financial contribution to the stakeholders of CKFTO.

Race to $250,000

Garcia, who wears two hats as a part of each organisation, said the journey started from the information party, with 18 people immediately signing up for the challenge of competing in the Rainbow Warriors Triathlon in Tobago, in exchange for free coaching, a trip to Tobago inclusive of accommodation and a free Pasta Party. The athletes were each coupled with a special-needs child, for whom they had to raise $5,000, in aid of therapy. Garcia said following the information party, a number of volunteers came forward to be a part of the initiative.

After 60 people were accepted, all other volunteers were placed on a waiting list. On November 1, 2008, training began under the coaching of nine-time triathlon champ, Jason Gooding and swim trainer, Sebastian Paddington. Garcia explained that from time to time, competitors would drop out but would quickly be replaced by people on the waiting list.

Along with CKFTO chairperson, Laura Pierre-Escayg, Garcia agreed that the effort given by those who volunteered for the fund-raising initiative and then participated in the triathlon on May 30 was indeed commendable. She said some volunteers managed to raise more than $5,000 for the organisation. More to be done “Many people don’t understand the needs special-needs children have and how difficult their situations may be on the parents who have to take care of them,” said Dr Natalie Dick, a developmental and behavioural paediatrician at the CKFTO.

Pierre-Escayg, who is the mother of a 5-year-old boy, Isaiah, who suffers from developmental delays, (his particular situation has no specific diagnosis), agreed, saying that work is being done by various governmental bodies but the financial allocation process has been a slow one.