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angelmancanada.org

Greetings from Kelly Meissner

CASS executive director

Hi everyone!

Can you believe it?! CASS turns 30 years old this year! I’m sure many of you feel as thankful as I do for our original founding families who carved time and space out of their lives to advocate and provide service to our Canadian AS community.

I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to all of our directors, supporters, and volunteers who continue to work tirelessly to help us achieve our mission of improving the lives of individuals living with Angelman Syndrome and their families. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, we have made significant strides in raising awareness for AS and keeping Canadian families strong. Our organization has continued to offer a range of educational resources, including webinars and online forums, the CASS Family Fund, and the 2022 Kelowna conference to help families navigate the complexities of AS and find the resources they need to ensure their loved ones receive the best possible care.

As we move forward, we remain committed to keeping families strong. CASS is deeply impressed by the commitment and dedication of our AS community. It is inspiring to see the incredible work being done by so many.

I hope to see you and your beautiful families at one of our Angelman Strong Walks this spring. We have lots of exciting news and updates coming your way. Follow us on social media and visit our website to stay connected.

If there’s anything CASS can do for your or your family, please do not hesitate to reach out via my email below. Big love to you all,

Kelly Meissner

executive.director@anglemancanada.org

Let’s get ready to walk!

It’s springtime and that means it’s time for our biggest fundraiser. We hope to see you at one of our walk locations.

The Angelman Strong 2023 Walk is a critical source of funding for CASS. It's not only a chance to raise funds to support our essential programs and initiatives, but it's also an opportunity to bring people together all across the country to show their support for those affected by Angelman syndrome. This year's event is going to be our most significant fundraiser yet and we can’t wait to see you at one of our #AngelmanStrong locations across Canada. Most of our walks are running on Saturday May 27, 2023. The Edmonton walk is at the Edmonton Valley Zoo on Saturday June 3, 2023. Let’s get your family and community registered! Visit our website: angelmancanada.org/walk or send an email to executive.director@angelmancanada.org for assistance.

CASS Family Fund

The CASS Family Fund was created to provide financial assistance to families supporting individuals with Angelman syndrome. Family members can apply for funds that are needed to improve the quality of life for an individual with Angelman syndrome. Our first round of 2023 CASS Family Fund applications is open from April 1-14, 2023 at the link below.

AS Community Updates

International Angelman Day

February 15th, 2023 was the 10th anniversary of International Angelman Day (IAD) and we saw the AS community light it up blue all over world to raise awareness and show support for those living with AS. Thanks to the awesome fundraising initiative of Gina Ciampa and her family, we raised over $6,000 on IAD! We are proud to have been a part of this global effort, and we look forward to continuing to collaborate with our international partners to improve the lives of individuals with AS and their families.

HUG Camp - Aug 25-27, 2003

CASS is so excited to support HUG Camp this August. Registration is open now. HUG Camp is a place for families to come together for a weekend camp. The amazing Alison Rumball, teacher and literacy and AAC instructor, is putting together an amazing experience for families - you don’t want to miss it!

HUG Camp is geared toward families that have a family member with a disability and use AAC. This year, HUG Camp is booked for August 25-27, 2023 at the Kinark Outdoor Centre in the Kawarthas, Ontario. The cost for a family of 4 is $250 ($50 for each additional person), which includes your cabin and prepared food for 4 all weekend!

We are looking forward to connecting with families at this fun-filled, action-packed weekend that includes loads of outdoor activities like boating and swimming.

Earth Hour - March 25th @ 8:30 pm EST

Starting as a symbolic lights-out event in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour is now the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment. Each year, Earth Hour inspires millions of people to take action for our planet and nature. By participating and sharing our actions for Earth Hour, we spark further discussion and interest in the planet Earth and sustainability.

How is your family participating in Earth Hour on Saturday March 25th between 8:30-9:30 PM EST? Let us know by tagging us #CanadianAngelmanSyndromeSociety and #EarthHour on your socials!

CASS has some big news coming soon…stay connected with us to find out more!