With the throw of a switch, members of 12 Military Police (MP) Flight brought some holiday cheer to 19 Wing Comox, as they illuminated their annual Christmas Tree of Lights on Friday.
This is just one of many initiatives across Canada to raise awareness of the Military Police Fund for Blind Children (MPFBC).
“The Blind Fund is very special to Military Police members and we are proud to donate our time and efforts to making the Fund a success,” said Cpl. David Winship, 12 MP Flight’s MPFBC organizer. “We hope that this tree will serve as a reminder and shed some light on the issue of blind children in-need.”
During the lighting ceremony, the MPs held a fundraiser selling hot drinks and breakfast snacks as 19 Wing members arrived at work.
They were also proud to host some local visually impaired children and their families at the 12 MP Flight building. This year, the MPs are supporting three local children by providing adaptive tablet devices and sporting equipment.
The MPFBC continues to be run and managed by Military Police volunteers and remains unique as Canada’s only military charity that is administered exclusively by members of the sponsoring unit.
The Fund began in 1957 when Provost Marshal, Col. James Stone, father of a blind daughter, discovered the financial difficulties that faced other blind children, their families and the organizations that struggled to help them.
As he travelled the country as part of his duties, he took up a collection for children at the School for the Blind in Brantford, Ont.
Today, the MPFBC does its work in support of blind children and young adults (up to age 21), as well as organizations that specialize in providing recreation and education programs to blind children.
For more information on the Military Police Fund for Blind Children, you can visit http://mpfbc.com/index_e.html.
— 19 Wing Comox