Years ago while discussing our support of various charitable organizations, a friend mentioned that she preferred to donate and volunteer to charities that support children and animals, as both, for the most part, are least equipped to support themselves without outside influence. Her position went a long way in shaping my charitable doctrine, so when HMCS DISCOVERY and HMCS MALAHAT Naval Reserve Divisions sought volunteers to answer phones at the 2013 Variety Show of Hearts Telethon I jumped at the chance to support a cause that is important to me.
Variety the Children’s Charity has been raising money through the Show of Hearts Telethon for 47 years. The money raised goes to support children with special needs throughout BC in order to allow them meet unique challenges while still participating and enjoying the activities that all children should.
We started early in the morning on February 17th, activating our phones and eagerly awaiting our first calls. We saw pre-recorded and live interviews with children and their families who face some heart wrenching challenges every day, and yet they persevere with the help of charities such as Variety. At first the lines we quiet, but it did not take long for viewers and supporters to start calling in and generously opening their wallets for the children.
Being on hand to witness donations reached the $1 Million mark was a rewarding experience, and a only a few hours later when the telethon ended donations had exponentially grown to over $7 Million. It was a fulfilling experience, one that I will not soon forget, and one I hope to take part in again next year.
