The Litter Box Week 2: The War Amps

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We had the chance to sit with Molly the Cat and talk about this week’s Litter Box attendees and the charity that was instrumental in arranging children for the games. 

 

I want to take a moment to thank you for covering the details of the Litter Box attendees each week. There are so many deserving children out there that for so many reasons do not get to experience what a lot of us take for granted. This week in addition to the general events of the Litter Box experience we wanted to go a step further and help these children experience what it is like to be a hockey player. This week’s attendees to the Litter Box are all amputee children so to assist them in experiencing hockey personally we took the opportunity to get them all fitted with skates, and/or skate prosthetics so that they could join the team on the ice for a practice. I was happy to team up with the Canadian Chapter of War Amps to bring some children from my home country to the London United games.  

 

War Amps 

War Amps was founded in 1918 by amputee war veterans returning home after the First World War. Since 1918 the programs and services that War Amps provides has grown and now includes,

 

War Amps aims and objectives are to: 

 

• 1) Provide financial assistance to amputees for their artificial limbs 

• 2) Educate amputees with information on artificial limbs and all aspects of living with amputation 

• 3) Encourage child amputees to develop a positive approach to amputation through comprehensive programs including tools for future independence 

• 4) Assist war amputees and seriously disabled veterans access pension benefits and wellness programs 

• 5) Advocate for the rights and interests of all amputees 

• 6) Employ amputees and others with disabilities at the Key Tag Service sheltered workshop and throughout the Association 

• 7) Serve the public through the Key Tag Service, PLAYSAFE™ and DRIVESAFE™ programs and Operation Legacy initiatives 

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War Amps does not rely on government funding to operate, it raises funds through public support of the Key Tag Service and through private donations. If this is a cause that you are interested in, please feel free to donate and help them with their life altering services. You can find out more about them by going to waramps.ca. 

 

Andrea Jansen 

 

Andrea is a 13-year-old from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She is a typical young teenager who unfortunately lost her leg in a bicycle accident when she was nine. Andrea was cycling with her two friends on her quiet street when a truck turned around the corner at high speed and ran directly into the group. Two of the girls were killed instantly, Andrea and her bike were tossed to the side, Andrea’s leg was severely mangled and had to be amputated just above the knee. The net couple of years were very tough for Andrea as she had to learn to cope with the loss of her two best friends, and with functioning with only one leg. The War Amps organization stepped in to help with funding for an artificial leg and helping her through the physiotherapy required to use it properly. They also assisted in arranging treatment relating to the trauma she endured. Andrea and her family have become advocates for the War Amps organization, travelling around the country to do speaking events. Andrea also supports Student’s Against Druck Driving as unfortunately the person driving the vehicle that killed her friends and injured her was drunk at the time.