As well as making a difference to myAFK and HCAG, the Toy Trust continues to donate to a range of children’s charities across the UK.
Toy Trust Committee Chairman Graham Canning wrote to members this week to thank them for their continued support of the industry charity and outline the achievements of the organisation in 2021.
“The Toy Trust has remained very active in 2021 and I am pleased to update you all on the support we have been giving to children’s charities with your fundraising,” he wrote.
“Thanks to the success of our Around The World in 80 Hours in June, we have been able to pledge our support to myAFK and HCAG – two outstanding UK mobility charities for children. We are also continuing to give grants to small UK children’s charities throughout this year.”
The Toy Trust is pleased to be making a tangible difference to children’s lives. Just one example of how fundraising monies have been used involves six year old Max, who has Erb’s Palsy, which has caused significant loss of sensation, movement and strength in his right shoulder, arm and hand. This affects his balance, coordination and posture and makes it difficult for him to do many daily tasks on his own. Max has had various surgeries over the years to help try and improve the movement in his arm, but still has difficulty with his right upper torso.
Max has dreamed about being able to ride a bike with his brother, and voiced his ambition to be able to go fast and not worry about falling off and hurting himself. Max’s family applied to myAFK for funding towards a specialist recumbent trike, and thanks to the Toy Trust’s support of myAFK, Max’s bike was ordered and delivered before the end of the summer holidays.
His family got in touch to say: “My word, we have one VERY excited boy on our hands! We drove to collect the trike on Friday and Max has been out on it every day since. He has taken to it like a fish to water and I will admit to feeling a little emotional seeing him cycling independently with such a huge smile on his face.”
Max has been able to enjoy many bike rides with his family and friends, having fun as well as improving his fitness, core strength and balance.
His mother provided the photo of Max proudly showing off his new ride, and told myAFK: “I cannot thank you and your charities enough for the gift you have given not just Max, but our entire family. Max’s new ability has opened up the path for family bike rides, something his older brother has been desperate for us to do. Here is a photo of Max enjoying the sun this morning. I couldn’t get a video because he was pedalling so fast I couldn’t run in front enough to capture it! Thank you so very much again.”
Thanks to the support of its members, the Toy Trust has supported at least 30 children’s charities this year. For more on the organisations that have benefited from the charity’s help, visit the Toy Trust website here where there are also links to how toy industry individuals can get involved in future fundraising or simply make a donation.
Any readers who have a fundraising idea of their own can also email Matt@btha.co.uk to discuss how it can be brought to life.
