MAGALANG -- Scores of mentally and physically challenged children
benefitted from the "Reach for the Sky 2" project jointly initiated
Saturday by the Canon Advocacy Team and the SM Cares.
Some of the kids with disabilities were given a chance to experience
flying on board ultra-light aircrafts and Cessna planes at the Angeles
City Flying Club Woodland Airpark at Talimundok, Santa Maria, in this
town, Saturday.
The children belonged to various organizations, including the Parent
Advocates for Visually Impaired Children, Kythe Foundation, Philippine
Society for Orphan Disorders, Autism Society of the Philippines, Down
Syndrome Association of the Philippines, Saint Francis School–VSA Arts
Philippines Incorporation and the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder Society of the Philippines.
The Philippine Air Force also assisted in this year’s event by
providing a chopper, which was used in flying some of the children
around the area.
The PWD (Photography with a Difference) -- Touching Lives Through
Photography as an advocacy began with a chance encounter with 2008
between photographer John Chua and Ian, a 25-year-old youth with autism.
Chua invited Ian and his mother to the Manila Zoo as he had wanted to
capture bonding moments between a mother and her son, hoping such
photographs would give her solace and inspiration during difficult
times.
Margie Escuelta, Canon head of Corporate Communications, said they
sponsored and initiated PWD Achievers Reach for the Sky last year so
that children may enjoy various activities, including flying.
She said Canon has also been involved in various projects as part of their corporate social responsibility.
The Canon A Team consists of some 80 volunteer photographers at present, according to Escuelta.
As part of its 15th year anniversary this year, Canon is also
planning to conduct a basketball clinic for kids with Down syndrome and
ADHD.
“We want to teach them so that they will be able to maximize their abilities and not their disabilities,” Escuelta said.
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Reynaldo G. Navales | SunStar.Com.Ph | June 25, 2012 | Article Link
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