Help Ken survive the pandemic
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My friend, Ken, who you may recognize from my short film “Hole”, was born with a condition called arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC), a rare condition that causes joint contractures. He’s been in a wheelchair his entire life.
Ken has been looking for work for 10 years, but nobody will give him a job. Besides financial support from the government, panhandling is the only way he can supplement a shortfall in income to cover basic necessities and medical expenses. But, because he’s immunocompromised he stays indoors and hasn’t panhandled since Toronto went into COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020.
On top of that, Ken has been in and out of the hospital with pneumonia over the last few months and this past September he was hit by a car that knocked him off his wheelchair and he hit his head on the pavement. Thankfully, Ken hasn’t suffered major injuries from the accident, but doctors are monitoring him for concussion.
Ken has had a tough life overall. He was found in a dumpster as a baby and spent his childhood and adolescence growing up in hospitals, foster homes, and institutions – sometimes suffering verbal and physical abuse – until he could get enough support to survive on his own.
I first met Ken in 2011 on a corporate video shoot he was acting in. I was immediately taken by his friendliness, sense of humour, independence, and pride in his sexual identity. He left such an impression on me that he inspired a character and story for a screenplay, then eventually got the lead role in my film. We've remained friends ever since.
You can learn about his incredible story in this piece by CBC’s The National .
Considering a COVID-19 vaccine likely won’t be widely available until mid to late next year, I’m trying to help Ken raise money to cover his monthly deficit with weekly payments for six months to a year and, depending on how much we raise, clear some or all of the debt that he’s racked up from his recent misfortunes and not being able to panhandle.
I know this is a difficult time for everybody, but if you can spare $10, $20, $50 or more, it would go a long way for this wonderful human being who has few options to earn a living.
Ken has been looking for work for 10 years, but nobody will give him a job. Besides financial support from the government, panhandling is the only way he can supplement a shortfall in income to cover basic necessities and medical expenses. But, because he’s immunocompromised he stays indoors and hasn’t panhandled since Toronto went into COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020.
On top of that, Ken has been in and out of the hospital with pneumonia over the last few months and this past September he was hit by a car that knocked him off his wheelchair and he hit his head on the pavement. Thankfully, Ken hasn’t suffered major injuries from the accident, but doctors are monitoring him for concussion.
Ken has had a tough life overall. He was found in a dumpster as a baby and spent his childhood and adolescence growing up in hospitals, foster homes, and institutions – sometimes suffering verbal and physical abuse – until he could get enough support to survive on his own.
I first met Ken in 2011 on a corporate video shoot he was acting in. I was immediately taken by his friendliness, sense of humour, independence, and pride in his sexual identity. He left such an impression on me that he inspired a character and story for a screenplay, then eventually got the lead role in my film. We've remained friends ever since.
You can learn about his incredible story in this piece by CBC’s The National .
Considering a COVID-19 vaccine likely won’t be widely available until mid to late next year, I’m trying to help Ken raise money to cover his monthly deficit with weekly payments for six months to a year and, depending on how much we raise, clear some or all of the debt that he’s racked up from his recent misfortunes and not being able to panhandle.
I know this is a difficult time for everybody, but if you can spare $10, $20, $50 or more, it would go a long way for this wonderful human being who has few options to earn a living.
Organizer
Martin Edralin
Organizer
Toronto, ON