Despite setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Toronto teenager Madhavan Thevar has persisted in his efforts to raise $5000 for KBHN.
In September, the teenager launched a GoFundMe where he set the goal of raising $5000 by giving away his first published book of poetry, a 22-poem collection entitled I Am Unique. The poems touch on the teenager’s ideas on disability awareness and his own daily life and experiences during the pandemic. Family friend Yuma Vasuki, an award-winning Indian illustrator, provided the drawings for the printed book.
Thevar’s passion for raising awareness about neurodiversity started several years ago when he began working at a summer camp and was paired with a group of autistic children. He told KBHN that he formed a “special connection” to the kids, and wanted to continue working with them, impressed by their uniqueness and creativity.
He then began volunteering for a respite-care initiative called rEcess, where he did activities with school-aged children with disabilities. Eventually, he began composing poetry about the experience at the encouragement of a teacher.
But Thevar wanted to contribute even more, and after discovering the research programs at KBHN, he decided he would publish his first book of poetry in support of KBHN’s efforts to apply research findings to improve the everyday lives of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities.
The launch of his fundraiser in September was met with an enthusiastic response. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused some setbacks with the publication of the book. Initially slated for October, delays with the publication process have pushed that date back until February 2021.
But that hasn’t stopped Thevar from aiming to reach his fundraising goal. Now that publication is back on track, Thevar said he has seen another upswing in donations and has plans to continue fundraising throughout the spring.
“Things kind of slowed down when we realized we had to postpone the book, but now we’re seeing a lot of people that are pledging to donate money soon, as soon as the book comes out,” he said.
“We’re expecting a really big boost.”
Meanwhile, the teenager is also busy applying to university, where he wants to pursue a field where he can continue working with kids, possibly in child-related neurosurgery.
By: Cherise Seucharan (Freelance Writer)
