Thomas Bourke and his mom Linda Canning share a special moment. The family is moving to a condo in November that will require renovations to make it more accommodating for his cerebral palsy. - Photo/COURTESY
Thomas Bourke and his mom Linda Canning share a special moment. The family is moving to a condo in November that will require renovations to make it more accommodating for his cerebral palsy. - Photo/COURTESY
Christmas is coming early for 10-year-old Thomas Bourke and his mom, Linda Canning.
The Etobicoke family still needs a few angels to help ready their new home for the holidays.
The 1,300-square-foot condo in the Burnhamthorpe and Mill roads area needs extensive modifications to accommodate Thomas, who has cerebral palsy. He requires assistance in all mobility and daily living skills, and has difficulty speaking and processing information.
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Thomas has a walker and a wheelchair.
Mom and son were set to move into their new home on Wednesday.
But a few items are still needed, including: a plumber; custom doors for all doorways that were enlarged to accommodate Thomas’ wheelchair; baseboard and door trim; bathroom tile and vanity; carpentry for new storage and closets; all window coverings.
Cash donations will go toward cost of labour, which continues daily.
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"A lot of renovations have to take place to accommodate Thomas’ needs..." said his mom Linda Canning. "It’s exciting. It’s daunting. It will be our home. The goal is that it will accommodate Thomas living here for another 20 years. I’m hoping to only do it once."
Canning estimated the condo’s extensive renos will cost approximately $40,000.
The single mom said she is hoping to offset about $15,000 of that through business partnerships — in-kind donations of materials and installation, as well as monetary donations and offers of volunteer labour.
Visit www.hopeforthomas.org to learn more about Thomas and to contact Canning to donate.
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