Fight Like Mason donates five youth wheelchairs
- the wheelchairs each have a special theme-
by Sylene Argent & photos admitted
Last week, the Fight Like Mason Foundation made another donation in support of local youths battling cancer. The most recent donation consisted of five customized paediatric wheelchairs that were forwarded to the Windsor Regional Hospital’s paediatric floor.
“Anytime we have the opportunity to bring smiles to kids in scary situations, we will find a way. We will always continue to fight childhood cancer and make sure all the kids fighting the big battles feel like the superheroes they truly are,” the Fight Like Mason foundation stated on its official Facebook page about the donation.
The wheelchairs, dubbed “Mason Super Wheels” include a Captain America, Spider-Man, and emoji themes. Two of the wheelchairs depict Mason’s picture with the slogan, “Defeating the Villain for Good.”
The total value for the donation was $4,500.
The Fight Like Mason Foundation was formed to carry on Mason’s name, way of life, and legacy.
The mission of the Fight Like Mason Foundation is to improve treatment, care, quality of life, and awareness of patients diagnosed with childhood rhabdomyosarcoma and other childhood cancers.
Earlier in March, Kids Curing Cancer representatives presented the Fight Like Mason Foundation with the $14,906 in proceeds it raised, primarily at a Amherstburg Minor Hockey Association fundraiser held in January and at a dinner and music event hosted at Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery last month.
During that cheque presentation, Chantelle Bacon and Iain Macri, the parents of Mason Macri, who passed away after a battle with cancer nearly three years ago at the age of four, teased they had a new donation in the works, but it would be a secret until the unveiling took place.
Macri said part of the Fight Like Mason Foundation’s mission is to provide bright, colourful, and fun medical equipment to the hospital to make the youth under going treatment smile, while feeling proud and safe during their stay.
“We knew there was a need. We hope we fulfilled that need,” he said.
Ron Foster, Vice President, Public Affairs, Communications and Philanthropy for Windsor Regional Hospital, said the customized design of the wheelchairs are very unique.
The Fight Like Mason Foundation, over the past few years, has had a great reputation. Last year Foster said, the charitable organization provided several IV poles that were all also designed with different superheroes or youth-like themes.
“The kids love it,” he said, adding that having an IV can be freighting. But, when the kids see the pole, they get proud to take it around with them.
The Paediatrics Department believes the wheelchairs are a great motivator for the youth. Being in the hospital isn’t always a great experience for the youth, Foster said. The equipment can be used to take youth to get an x-ray or to surgery.