European Specialty

Seventh Annual European and Classic Car Picnic Tops $100,000!!!!!

Raised over $100,000 for the Queen Alexandra Foundation for Children

Wow! Many thanks once again to the Vancouver Island Region Porsche Club of America. This year's European and Classic Car Picnic raised over $100,000!!!!!!

This wouldn't have been possible without the tremendous support of all the Porsche Club members. Many, many thanks to President Gary Glover and all the members for participating in the show, volunteering, and sending in your own personal donations. Special thanks are extended to Ernie Yakimovich, Carl Latzel and Ernie Kowal - the three partners in crime who constituted the organizing committee for the event. They put in hundreds of hours to make the event a success and we are indebted to them. Thanks are owed as well to Virginia Macdonald who kept the event website up to date.

Funds raised from the car picnic are going to make life for children and youth admitted to Ledger House - the mental health hospital for kids on the QA grounds - a lot brighter. The money has helped renovate a new sensory room where kids can burn off extra energy and steam. Padded completely with crash mats, kids can run around the room, tumble, crash and bump to their heart's content (under the supervision of a Ledger therapist!) The extra funds from the picnic have allowed the Foundation to install new sports courts at Ledger. The previous outdoor areas consisted of old, chipped concrete and aging paint. The new sports courts simply sparkle, encouraging kids to shoot hoops, try their hand at hockey, or simply just have fun.

David Beagley, the occupational therapist who works with the kids at Ledger, has this to say about what you've done for QA:

Ledger Building provides a short stay inpatient service for children and teenagers who have mental health issues. Primary focus is on assessment and stabilization. Many of the children and teenagers who attend have struggles with anxiety, managing their emotions and a need to feel safe. Most of the clients have experienced some form of trauma, short or longer term, involving mental, emotional and/or physical components. As a result, their nervous systems are over activated and they may be in a state of survival, prepared for "Fight, Flight or Freeze."

At Ledger, we strive to provide safety and respect and to help the clients develop a sense of mastery or control over themselves and their environment. An important part of that is developing an environment that is visually pleasing and engaging.

The wonderful renovations to the children's and youth's courtyards promote a sense of caring and respect for the space. Visually the courtyards are pleasing and invite clients to feel good about them and want to use them. This helps involve them in physical activity and helps reduce stress and anxiety. The courtyards are an enjoyable place to play, socialize and develop skills.

The sensory modulation room is a large, safe space that is engaging and fun. The thick, soft mats on the floor ensure safety. The multiple folding mats and beanbags are the "building blocks" for imagination that help with building, playing and creating mazes, tunnels, mountains etc.

When "Fight, Flight or Freeze" is activated, as the children say, "words are hard". Engaging in physical activity helps turn off the survival responses and the children and teenagers develop skills of emotional management and sense of mastery over their space and selves.

On behalf of the children, teenagers, families and staff, I extend our appreciation and thanks for your support in helping create an improved therapeutic environment at Ledger House. Thank you.

To our friends at the Porsche Club, you have been helping the children and youth at Queen Alexandra for many, many years. All your efforts are greatly appreciated, from the annual Crown Isle raffle to the car picnic to the individual donations and to the welcome phone calls and chats. Quite frankly, we are anticipating this is going to be a hard year for families, with cuts in jobs and programs. We know that it probably wasn't an easy year for you to give, but you helped anyway when families needed help. The Vancouver Island Region Porsche Club of America has been a friend to the Queen Alexandra Foundation for Children for almost a decade. We appreciate every single activity you have undertaken on QA kids' behalf. Many, many thanks to each and every one of you and best wishes for a joyous Christmas and holiday season and for a healthy and happy 2010.

Jennifer Jasechko, Vice President, Queen Alexandra Foundation for Children