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This Burnaby family has already overcome more challenges than you’ll ever face

Burnaby’s Jongbloets family is a pretty independent crew. But sometimes a little help is welcome, especially from Variety – the Children’s Charity, which is getting ready for its annual Show of Hearts telethon.
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Jamie Jongbloets, son Johannes and daughter Parker are seen interviewed by Global’s Chris Gailus and Sophie Liu, along with Cally Wesson, CEO of Variety. Photo submitted

Burnaby’s Jongbloets family is a pretty independent crew.

But sometimes a little help is welcome, especially from Variety – the Children’s Charity, which is getting ready for its annual Show of Hearts telethon.

The Jongbloets will be there on camera discussing the challenges the family faces every day, and how Variety has supported them.

Featured will be dad Jamie, son Johannes and daughter Parker.

Johannes is just turning 15 and has severe hemophilia A (Factor XIII deficiency). Variety provided Johannes with specialized braces in 2006, orthotics in 2012 and a manual wheelchair in 2016.

“Without that, he wasn’t very mobile at all so that was a big gift for us,” Jamie said in an interview with Global BC. “Variety really has been amazing.”

Parker is an 11 and was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of two. Variety provided Parker with a continuous glucose monitor so that she and dad would be able to monitor her blood sugar levels throughout the day and night.

These are the many ways that Variety supports children in B.C., but to do that requires money.

That’s where the telethon comes in. It takes place on Feb. 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Global.

Last year’s Variety Show of Hearts Telethon raised $5,765,594. Donations can be made by calling toll free at 310-KIDS and online at variety.bc.ca or by texting “KIDS” to 45678 to make an automatic $20 contribution.