Mason McClement, an enthusiastic 16-year-old from Youbou, will be a junior host on Shaw’s Timmy’s Christmas Telethon on Sunday, Dec. 6.
The event supports the Easter Seals BC campaign.
McClement, who has cerebral palsy, will be speaking on air to assist Shaw/Global hosts, helping with cheque presentations, and encouraging viewers to call in and donate.
McClement is a typical 16-year-old boy with his own set of wheels (in his case a wheelchair). Often you’ll see him whizzing by on the streets of Lake Cowichan with his friendly smile.
This past summer he volunteered for Cowichan Lake Community Services where he impressed executive director Carol Blatchford.
“Mason displayed integrity, patience, outgoing personality and a sense of humour. We were blessed to have Mason as part of our team,” she said.
But his summer was not just all work, no play.
He also did what other boys his age are doing: playing sports, swimming, sailing and pulling pranks on pals.
McClement knows all about Easter Seals Camp Shawnigan, the only fully accessible summer camp on Vancouver Island.
He spent a full week there last summer, enjoying camp fun at a place where more than 250 kids with disabilities get to experience a week of camp every summer.
He loved it.
“My favourite part of camp is definitely the counsellors and the people who assist in running the camp. Everyone is so positive, and I think that’s what makes camp so much fun in the first place.
“I enjoyed spending time in a place where you can forget about your disability for awhile and just have fun,” he said in a press release.
But, when asked what his favourite thing at camp was he answered, “There are so many memories that I have, that it’s difficult to narrow it down to a specific moment. However, I would say that I enjoyed being the camp photographer. Through my experiences as the camp photographer, I discovered that I really enjoyed photography, and it is now a hobby of mine. I wanted to continue pursuing my passion at school so I enrolled in yearbook.”
But right now, he’s looking forward to helping host the telethon.
Not only does Timmy’s Christmas Telethon raise funds for three Easter Seals Camps across B.C., but also for the Easter Seals House, which provides a home away from home for families that must leave their homes in order to access medical care in Vancouver.
In 2014 the house provided over 5,600 stays for families from Vancouver Island.
Be sure to catch McClement on Timmy’s Christmas Telethon on Sunday, Dec. 6 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on your local Shaw TV channel, Shaw Direct 299 or Livestream on your computer at www.timmys.org.
Donations can be made at www.timmys.org or by calling 1-800-818-4483.
Donations during the Telethon will be see on the donor scroll on air.