Thaddeus Flannigan is a big brother three times over 鈥� as of last week 鈥� and increasing his strength and mobility are now all the more critical for this eight-year-old 91原创 City lad.

He already has a four-year-old younger brother, Darcy, as well as a 22-month-old brother Jimmy 鈥� and does much to help his mother Candice Welch and his father Garrett Flannigan take care of his younger siblings.

Less than a week ago now, those duties increased, when Thaddeus became (two weeks early) a proud big brother to his new little sister, six-pound nine-ounce Violet.

With his increased family responsibilities, plus his desire to excel in a variety of competitive sports, this Grade 2 Uplands Elementary student is 鈥渆xtremely grateful鈥� to Variety for all they鈥檝e done to assist him in achieving these goals.

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And it鈥檚 no surprise that Variety is a topic of discussion in his family鈥檚 household this week 鈥� ahead of the annual fundraising telethon happening this weekend in Coquitlam.

Variety 鈥� and this weekend鈥檚 Show of Hearts telethon 鈥� have helped Thaddeus in ways they probably don鈥檛 even realize, said his mother.

The biggest assistance has come in the form of giving Thaddeus鈥� increased strength and mobility 鈥� allowing him to play wheelchair basketball, sledge hockey, and racing, Candice said.

The oldest of four children, Thaddeus was born premature at 31 weeks and weighed only four pounds.

Joint contractures at birth prevented him from straightening his arms and legs. He spent two weeks at BC Children鈥檚 Hospital followed by another six weeks at Royal Columbian Hospital before finally coming home.

Thaddeus has what mother describes as central core myopathy 鈥� a disease weakening his muscles.

鈥淗is condition affects the way his muscles strengthen. He has had four hip surgeries, ongoing physiotherapy, and pool therapy. Thaddeus wears a back brace to hold his spine from progressing and he will need surgery on his spine eventually.鈥�

So far, in large part thanks to the assistance of Variety 鈥� The Children鈥檚 Charity, he鈥檚 received extra therapy needed to build his strength.

The charity has also assisted with extra costs for foot and back braces that are not fully covered, Mom elaborated.

And Variety鈥檚 efforts to help Thaddeus go even further, Candice added, explaining why the charity organizers might not even realize the breadth of help they鈥檝e given to Thaddeus through the years.

Variety supports an organization called Let鈥檚 Play program, which is run through the BC Wheelchair Sports Association.

鈥淭hey have supplied Thaddeus with a sports chair, so he is able to play wheelchair basketball and actively participate in gym at school,鈥� a grateful mother elaborated.

鈥淲ithout the help of Variety, Thaddeus wouldn鈥檛 be the strong and independent boy he is now,鈥� she said.

鈥淭here is nothing he can鈥檛 do.鈥�

While Thaddeus has never attended the annual telethon, and doesn鈥檛 expect to be in this year鈥檚 audience, he has helped out in different Variety campaigns and expects to keep assisting 鈥� where possible.

Recently, for instance, he was featured on Variety鈥檚 golden heart pin display and he periodically speaks at various Variety fundraisers.

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Telethon weekend

Variety hosted its 51st Show of Hearts this weekend, raising a little more than $5 million.

The telethon, which featured a large variety of entertainers including 91原创鈥檚 own Dallas Smith, was changed to a one-day format and broadcast live Sunday, Feb. 12 from the Hard Rock Casino in Coquitlam.

鈥淚t was exciting, it was moving, it was humbling 鈥� the whole day was almost overwhelming,鈥� says Variety BC chief executive officer, Kristy Gill.

鈥淚 am completely blown away by the generosity of our donors. The funds we raised today are going to help kids in communities across British Columbia to walk, to speak, to learn 鈥� I鈥檓 so proud of our Variety team, all of our partners, and everyone else who contributed to make this day such as success for kids with special needs and their families.鈥�

For those who missed the Show of Hearts, it鈥檚 not too late to help. Donations can still be made online at variety.bc.ca, toll free by phone at 310-KIDS, or by texting 鈥淜IDS鈥� to 45678 to make an automatic $20 contribution.

Funds raised from the annual showcase will go towards helping children 鈥� like Thaddeus 鈥� with special needs all across British Columbia.