CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - Brian MacLeod is confident his son, Ty, will embrace the role of 2019 Easter Seals ambassador for P.E.I. – a special post that will thrust the Summerside youth into the limelight.
“He is sociable,’’ said MacLeod.
“He has always been comfortable in a crowd.’’
Ty’s world is about to get a whole lot more crowded and hectic as he dons the coveted ambassador’s cap, makes speeches to hundreds of Island students and becomes a familiar face to thousands of Islanders in the coming months.
“Ty will be a rock star when he’s done,’’ said campaign chairwoman Edna Reid.
“It’s like a life-changing experience.’’
About the campaign
- The Easter Seals Society of P.E.I. campaign is a franchised project of the Rotary Club of Charlottetown and supported by the Rotary Club of Summerside and the Rotary Club of Montague
- Annual activities include a direct mail campaign, the Tim Hortons’ Ambassador’s School Tour, the Paper Egg campaign, fundraisers at an Island Storm basketball game, Charlottetown Islanders hockey game and UPEI sports games, Dooly’s pool tournament, various barbecues and many other fundraising initiatives and campaign sponsor contributions that enable Easter Seals to help provide programs and equipment for people with disabilities on Prince Edward Island
- Edna Reid, chairwoman of the 2019 Easter Seals Campaign, is gunning to top the $162,000 raised in last year’s campaign. “Definitely, we want to raise more,’’ she said
- Reid described Ty, who turns 13 on Friday, as remarkable and charming
Shelley MacLeod says speech is the biggest challenge for her son, Ty, who has Down syndrome, a genetic disorder typically associated with physical growth delays, mild to moderate intellectual disability and characteristic facial features.
Strangers may need to pay careful attention to understand Ty. However, his infectious energy should resonate quickly with the many people the youngster will encounter during his reign as Easter Seals ambassador.
“He is one of the happiest boys you will ever meet,’’ said dad.
Ty, who is in a modified school program at Athena Consolidated in Summerside, leads a full and fulfilling life.
He extends plenty of love and time towards his younger sister, 10-year-old Tori, who he calls his best friend.
He loves attending Tori’s hockey games, and often goes on the bench to cheer on his sister and her teammates.
A greyhound dog named Tsunami and cats Goober and Itty Bitty also vie for Ty’s affection.
The new Easter Seals ambassador also has a heap of interests that keep him active and entertained.
He balances his time between playing Special Olympics basketball, video games, dancing, listening to music (Maroon 5, an American pop rock band, is his personal favourite), playing his keyboard and guitar and watching YouTube videos and movies (he really likes the scary ones).
Ty’s motto for the 2019 Easter Seals Campaign is “the sky is the limit”.
With parents and a sister who could not be more loving and supportive, Ty will soon also have an entire province pulling for him to succeed.
So, perhaps the sky truly is the limit for this young ambassador.
RELATED: Georgetown student Brayden White chosen as P.E.I.'s 2018 Easter Seals Ambassador
