Reid Maxwell was riding high at the kick-off to K-Days two weeks ago. Really high. That’s because he was on a parade float but he didn’t let the party atmosphere belie the seriousness of his message to other kids his age.
The seven-year-old St. Albert boy helped to represent the War Amps float to warn other children about the summertime dangers of ‘Mean Machines’ – farm equipment and lawnmowers.
His mom, Fiona Maxwell, explained that even though Reid was born with a right lower leg amputation, he knows children through his playgroup who lose limbs or digits due to such machinery accidents. He also knows a lot about the help War Amps can offer to such children.
After he was born missing his lower right leg, he was introduced to the program through the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital. War Amps helps with socialization and to cover costs of prosthetics.
“He goes to seminars every two years where he can meet other kids who also have limb differences. It gives him a chance to interact with other kids who are similar to him and discuss how it’s affected their lives, whether it’s through school or socially. It just gives them a chance to express their feeling of being different.”
Those conferences are put on by the CHAMP (Children Amputee) program and is also attended by children from Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Their parents can attend too.
There are other conferences for children from other parts of the country. CHAMP is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and one of its major outreach programs is the PLAYSAFE initiative. The K-Days float was just one way that it gets its message out.
The Mean Machines theme was depicted on the colourful animated float, which had a special focus on lawn mowers, and warned kids about the dangers around them. As one of the display’s safety ambassadors, he got to walk alongside and wave to the crowd while showing off his artificial limb.
Fiona said that it was her son’s first time in the parade.
“He was quite excited. Too bad the weather wasn’t very co-operative.”
She also noted that it was his walking leg he used during the parade. He also has a running leg and a swimming leg, both of which were paid for with help by War Amps.
Just because he was born with an amputation doesn’t mean he likes to take things easy, after all.
“He’s very active. He’s into mountain biking. He does triathlons. He’s part of the Olympian Swim Club and swims competitively with them. He’s like any other seven-year-old boy, I guess.”
Every other incredibly active and competitive seven-year-old she must have meant.
Quick Facts
• Never be near lawn mowers. Accidents can happen in a split second. Be aware of potential dangers to ensure that a routine chore does not become a tragic event.
• Every year, the War Amps Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program enrols kids due to lawn mower accidents that could have been prevented. A few seconds of fun in the wrong place changed their lives forever.
• When it comes to children, accidents usually occur from falling off a riding lawn mower, being run over because the operator does not see them, being too young to operate the machine or being hit by debris.
Visit waramps.ca/playsafe for information on PLAYSAFE resources such as videos, posters, stickers and the SAFETY WALK Kit. To arrange a PLAYSAFE presentation, contact [email protected].
