Living in a small town can be difficult for any number of reasons. But for the Sandager family, small town life provides some tough challenges.
Six-year-old Ian Sandager was diagnosed at birth with arthro-gryposis, a rare congenital disorder marked by under-developed joints. But his mother Kim has worked hard to ensure Ian can enjoy his life in Preeceville, Saskatchewan.
"We were in Saskatoon for a doctor appointment with Ian, and we had enough time, and we had his power chair with us, so we went to a playground there that I knew was accessible. So we got to explore that and see him having fun on that, and it just made us completely aware that it was out there and that was a possibility for him to do that every day. Once your eyes are open to the possibilities, it's hard to turn your back on that," says Kim.
So Kim and her friends, including Melissa McNamara, dove head first into fundraising for an "everybody's playground" in Preeceville.
"It's a great project about inclusion and acceptance and getting everybody in there to play. It's just fantastic. Our sons are in school together and I definitely wouldn't want my child on the sidelines," says McNamara.
The playground at the Preecville School needs to be replaced. Funding from the usual sources - the town, the schools board - was difficult. However, the community has rallied to help with the $135,000 cost of the wheelchair accessible playground They are holding the second Run For Those Who Roll 15 km run on June 3, where the group hopes to raise the remaining $15,000 for the park.
As for the playground, it's more than a piece of equipment. For this community, it's about inclusion.
"I believe that all kids should play together," says Kim, "and to be able to experience that daily, that Ian's just another kid, another person, who wants to play and hang out and do kid stuff."
