Want to join me in making a difference? I'm cycling 500 km in 24 hours to raise money for George Jeffrey Children's Foundation, and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to our family and community.

Our Story:

Hey! My name is Kevin Green. I am a passionate cyclist and avid adventurer. I am also a husband and a father to two amazing boys - one who happens to have special needs. In 2019, when Sébastian was six years old he was diagnosed with an extremely rare genetic disorder called SETBP-1. We were told that there were only 100 people in the world known to have this genetic disorder. This disorder has come with a host of challenges for Sébastian, such as severe speech delay (apraxia), fine and gross motor delays, and developmental delays. Despite this, he faces these challenges with hard work and a genuine joy for life.

The George Jeffrey Children's Centre has been a part of our lives from the begining. Sébastian has been recieving regular speech, occupational and physio therapy at the Centre since he was 9 months old. George Jeffrey Centre is where he first learned the basics of cycling with an adaptive bike. While it may have taken him a few more years than most of his peers to start rolling down the road/trails, he's now regularly riding 10-15 kms!!

Suffice to say, at ten years old he continues to teach and inspire me every day - to face new challenges and approach them with passion. With this in mind, I decided to undertake the biggest challenge I could think of. On the weekend of June 3-4, 2023, I will be cycling 500 km in 24 hours to raise money in support of George Jeffrey Children's Foundation.

The Back Story:

After a normal pregnancy, Sébastian arrived right on time in January 2013 and we were se excited to welcome him into our family. As time quickly passed, we learned Sébastian had severe reflux and would cry as if in pain during tummy time. Then by the six month mark he was not yet sitting up on his own and could not swallow solid food. Despite all of this, Sébastian was a happy baby and met all the growth milestones which gave his doctors little cause for concern.

It wasn’t until Sébastian was past the six month mark that we attended a Mom and Baby group where the guest speaker was a physiotherapist from George Jeffrey Children's Centre. After hearing our story she recommended we call the Centre and request a spot in the Infant Growth and Development Clinic.

Within a few months we started working closely with a physiotherapist to develop Sébastian’s core muscles for stability, and an occupational therapist for his fine motor skills. After a year, Sébastian also started speech therapy at the Centre.

Sébastian’s therapy has been a family affair with everyone from parents and grand-parents to cousins making sure Sébastian doesn’t miss a single appointment. His therapists have been very supportive providing us with homework we can incorporate into our busy daily lives.

We are proud to say, ten years later, Sébastian is now running, swimming and BIKING like his friends. Thanks to the help of the Centre, Sébastian continues to progress and is so proud of himself when he reaches a goal. This summer he's determined to bike a total of 250 km and hit a jump on his bike!!

We are so grateful for the ongoing support George Jeffrey Children's Centre has given our family, and so many other families in Thunder Bay!

More information about George Jeffrey Children's Foundation:

George Jeffrey Children's Foundation is a charity in Thunder Bay, Ontario dedicated to raising the necessary funds to enrich the lives of children and youth living with physical, social, or developmental special needs. We believe every child should have the opportunity to reach their greatest potential, and we are here to make that happen! Every dollar raised stays in our community and directly benefits children, youth, and their families.

For more information on the George Jeffre Children's Foundation please visit http://www.georgejeffreyfoundation.com/