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Comox youth a CHAMP to young amputees

Roy Hemmerich of Comox and Lewis Jeon of Courtenay are back from the War Amps 2013 BC Child Amputee Seminar in Vancouver.
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ROY HEMMERICH PAUSES for a photo at the War Amps 2013 BC Child Amputee (CHAMP) Seminar in Vancouver.

Roy Hemmerich, 16, of Comox and Lewis Jeon, 13, of Courtenay, are back from the War Amps 2013 BC Child Amputee (CHAMP) Seminar in Vancouver.

The seminar brought together child amputees from across the province while also honouring the association’s 95th anniversary.

Roy was born a right arm amputee, while Lewis was born missing his right hand.

They attended the three-day seminar, which included sessions on the latest developments in artificial limbs, parenting an amputee child and dealing with teasing and bullying. The opening session paid tribute to the long history of the War Amps, and its continuing legacy of “amputees helping amputees.”

Roy was a junior counsellor to the younger Champs, acting as a role model and offering advice. He was also presented with a CHAMP Ambassador Certificate for educating the public about the War Amps through a recent media interview.

A highlight was the Amputees in Action session, where Champs demonstrated their standard and recreational artificial limbs and devices to the group. Roy showed his mountain biking device while Lewis showed a device that allows him to hold onto a skipping rope.

CHAMP is funded solely through public support of the War Amps key tag and address label service. For more information, call 1-800-250-3030 or visit waramps.ca.

— The War Amps