This year’s Children’s Telethon poster features Micah and Rivers Kang, twin boys from Comox who are just 11 months of age.
As child ambassadors, they are the face of the event that represents upwards of 800 children, youth and families served by the Comox Valley Child Development Association.
The boys were born five weeks early — Rivers weighed four pounds, 12 ounces and Micah five pounds, nine ounces — but their mother, Sara-Lynn, figures they have nearly caught up to their peers.
“They’re moving around like crazy, getting close to walking,” she said. “It’s pretty incredible. Actually now, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
She and husband Daniel have benefited from the CVCDA program that helps premature children. Sara-Lynn found the baby group a helpful way to meet other parents in similar situations.
“We could talk about things that I guess other moms wouldn’t talk about the same way because our children were not at the same level. They’ve had some different complications, and they may have had some extra challenges to overcome at such a young age.
“It was just a privilege that they asked the boys to be on the poster,” added Sara-Lynn, who works as a counsellor. “I know how important their role is in a lot of families with kids that have special needs or need a little extra support that they’re not going to get elsewhere.”
The telethon is in its 39th year. It takes place Nov. 2 at the Sid Williams Theatre.
reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com