Keoni has attended Sunshine Coast Children's Therapy Centre for almost three years now for regular physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. Keoni is 5 years of age with a significant visual impairment and a developmental delay. He has no consistent use of speech. He was born with an unbalanced chromosome translocation, causing a chromosomal defect of his second and third chromosomes.

Keoni has begun his first year of schooling in 2011 at Currimundi Special School in prep.

Keoni has been indepenendently mobile, albeit unsteady at times, for a couple of years now. He is unable to walk at a reasonable pace over long medium to long distances due to his level of attention, his poor balance and fatigue. For these reasons, his family required a transit stroller for Keoni, so that he can participate in outings with his family eg to the shops, medical appointments, on the weekends and when travelling on holidays.

A special thanks to Bubs Baby Shops who supplied the stroller to The Board Meeting at a significant discount. Every dollar we save helps the charity help another child in need.

Keoni is pictured here with our tireless committee member Mary Lee Barratt.

Asher is a three-year-old boy who was born with global developmental delays, cortical visual impairment, microcephaly and seizures. He is unable to roll or sit. He can stand with fulI assistance from a standing frame. Asher cannot talk and communicates via different cries. Asher is dependent upon his parents and carers for all of his needs. He is fed via a button in his stomach.

Asher has attended Sunshine Coast Children's Therapy Centre for two years now.

Asher's family is very diligent in continuing his home therapy programme on a daily basis, in order to avoid him developing contractures or a hip dislocation.

TBM donated an Airex mat for floor work and a "silk parachute" that lays on an incline board - this helps Aher to learn to creep on his belly on the floor upon and gives him the reward for his movement efforts as he can feel himself moving forwards and down.

Logan is a 2½ year old boy with a recent diagnosis of an unusual chromosomal disorder of chromosome 22.13 - Phelan McDirmid syndrome. For Logan, this means that he has low muscle tone throughout his body, and moderate to severe gross and fine motor delays. Logan does not speak at this stage, and speech is often absent with this syndrome.

Logan has just begun to walk using a walker donated by TBM. He wears ankle foot orthoses (AFOs-which support his ankles). The more he stands tall and walks, the more he is perceived as a big boy by his family and peers. He is also gaining strength as he walks.

He is likely to be using a walker for a long while as he has poor core control and is unable to steer the walker without assistance. Logan is likely to be using this walker exclusively for the next year and then to a lesser degree if he achieves functional, independent walking. In this case he would use the walker for longer distances or outings mainly.

Tenisha is a 9-year-old girl with Cerebral palsy, Spastic Diplegia, with an associated intellectual impairment. Tenisha is a very active young girl who walks independently and enjoys participating in physical activity.

She does experience muscle fatigue and struggles to keep up with her peers. She has therefore had some concerns regarding increasing
weight gain and so physical activity is especially important for Tenisha at this stage of her life, entering adolescence.

TBM bought Tenisha and her family a modified trike that Tenisha can use at home and in her community.

This has been very successful for Tenisha and has not only aided in increasing her physical activity and lower limb strength but has also increased her self-confidence and self-esteem.

Quinn is a champion little bloke who won the hearts of committee members Glenn and Mike when they first met him. Although his body gives him some grief, he is sharp as a tack, has a wicked sense of humour and showed us how good he was at reversing his motorised wheelchair.

Quinn's parents badly needed a new more portable wheelchair for him. The motorised chair was best utilised at school because that's where he spent most of his time, but is heavy and large and therefore only came home on weekends or holidays.

The Board Meeting bought Quinn a new portable wheelchair he could use at home and while out and about with his family.

Rylee Petersen - 14-year-old with Cerebral Palsy (spastic quadriplegia). Rylee, like most CP sufferers in manual wheelchair (attendant propelled). She spends most of the school hours in her manual wheelchair and it is essential to have proper stretching for her hip muscles to prevent contractures and other musculoskeletal problems. She has a tummy lying program set up at school which she utilises a scooped foam wedge and positions nicely. We tried positioning Rylee in this position with cushions but Rylee tends to move and cushions are not providing enough support for her. ln addition, Rylee has a PEG button and large amount of movement in tummy lying position might pull the button out. TBM bought a specialised foam wedge for Rylee so she has it at all times, not just at school.

Reiley Turner - Reiley is six year old little boy who attends Mooloolah State School. The Board Meeting's donation of a specialised walker means he will be able to keep up with his classmates. He has a diagnosis of Spastic Quadriplegia a form of cerebral palsy in which Reiley has difficulties with all movements of his upper and lower limbs. A diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy implies that all movement uses more energy than a regular child of the same age. The walker also means Reiley can also move around is his garden and go over to visit his neighbors.

Mitchell (pictured) is a 6-year-old with Cerebral Palsy (spastic diplegia). Mitch outgrew his walker (as described above for Reiley) and TBM replaced it.

His mum and dad sent us a nice note that sums it up.

"Attached is a couple of snaps of Mitchell & his new croc walker. Thank you to The Board Meeting for making Mitchell one of their beneficiaries & giving him his very much needed new walker.

"Mitch had a bit of trouble adjusting to his new wheels, (just think of your favourite old car/bike), he missed the old one. But today he truly overcame his apprehension of the new machine and took it for a run at his school's sports day.

"As you can see he has plenty of growing room, which is a huge relief for us. This walker has a fold down seat which is invaluable for Mitchell at school, especially in the playground."

Seb is yet another little cerebral palsy sufferer who needed a bigger walker and TBM stepped up to deliver his wish.

The Australian Down Syndrome Swimming Team includes two Sunshine Coast swimmers Clinton Stanley and Jana Clancy (pictured right). TBM helped sponsor their national training camp held in Noosa. Read their thankyou letter here >>

Jayden Van Asten, brother Matt, mum Tyler, TBM champion supporter Mark Visser and TBM's Glenn Corbet.

16-year-old Rett Syndrome sufferer Kimberly Norton and her mum Debbie with The Board Meeting’s Glenn Corbet, who is wearing the charity’s trademark bow-tie rash shirt.

GOING FOR GOLD: Ty Belnap, Clinton Stanley and Jana Clancy.

Burnside's Newport family, Peta, Adam and Phoenix.