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SWAK (updated)

Mayor Victor Fedeli officially kicked off Easter Seals month with a proclamation and sealed it with a kiss today at Memorial Gardens.
Mayor Victor Fedeli officially kicked off Easter Seals month with a proclamation and sealed it with a kiss today at Memorial Gardens.

The annual awareness month, is an opportunity for the foundation to raise funds and educate the public about Easter Seals and the kids they help.

Easter Seals Ambassador, Ashlee Dagenais, beamed as Mayor Vic read the proclamation and the North Bay Skyhawks named the foundation their charity of choice.

Dagenais, who suffered the loss of her mother earlier this year and then shortly after the loss of her home to a fire, is testament to the power of positive thinking.

“It just means that she has a lot of heart, a lot of background. She has dealt with a lot of adversity and this is just one more step in the path of life,” explains dad Ted Wilson.

Dagenais has been front and centre with the foundation for the past 14 years and says the functions help her through the low points.

“I can cope with the losses I’ve had because I just think about Easter Seals and what a great time I’m going to have at camp, that’s what really keeps me going,” said Dagenais.

Examples of the positive ‘can-do’ attitudes of the Ambassador and other Easter Seals Kids makes it easy for the Skyhawks hockey team to rally around the foundation and name them charity of choice explains Public Relations Officer, Lou Gagne.

“When you see all the kids come in, they’re being wheeled in or helped out and they are sitting down and they want to come to a hockey game…sitting by the glass, your heart just goes out to them,” Gagne stated.

The team also announced that proceeds from this year’s annual golf tournament will be donated to the foundation to help offset costs for equipment

“Our players just love kids to death, so this is one way we can put back again to the community and I think a worthy group.”

“The equipment they need is very expensive, we take everything for granted, so this is one way we can give back,” Gagne says.

Dagenais, who was thrilled to hear the news and meet the players at the same time, said the money will be put to good use.

“It’s going to do a lot for us kids, it’s going to pay for wheelchairs like my chair, leg braces, walkers, communication devices and lifts.”