Vernon

Photo: Amy Jackson-Shelling

Money for a new chair

Cops for Kids have teamed up with the Local Shriners to buy a specialized Ergochair 500 for four-year-old Vernon resident Anastacia Chirkoff.

Nearly $8000 was needed to purchase the chair and the cheque was presented to the family Monday morning at the Vernon Police Station.

“This is pretty much the community’s money going back to the community because it’s the community that supports the Shriners by buying tickets on our different raffles,” said Shriner Brian Schierer.

Anastacia Chirkoff was born with Ponto Cerebellar Hypoplasia-type 2. The lifelong condition affects the development of the brain, including the part of the brain responsible for coordinating movement. The chair will help keep Anastacia safe during her uncontrolled movements and will help reduce friction and pain, keeping her more comfortable.

“We go down to Vancouver in a little bit and we get it custom fit,” said mother Catherine Chirkoff. “They mold it to her body shape so it’s custom cut and it involves maintenance. We can go down to Vancouver and get it as she grows so it adjusts to her body shape. It’s a beautiful piece of equipment.”

“We’ve had other families that have had this chair and they’ve said they cried when it came off the truck because it was such a wonderful thing for their child to have. It was such a blessing.”

The family hopes to receive the chair in about three months.