Key tag support is life-changing for War Amps "Champs"

ONTARIO, March 5, 2012 /CNW/ - When Annelise was born missing part of her left arm, her parents felt shocked, worried and very alone.  The War Amps Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program had a life-changing impact, allaying their fears and helping to put Annelise on the road to future independence.

As Ontario residents receive their annual War Amps key tags starting this week, they will find enclosed a letter from Annelise explaining the mailing's theme of "Growing up with CHAMP."

In it, she describes how CHAMP was there from the start, providing funding for artificial limbs, regional seminars, tools to deal with issues like teasing and staring and answers to questions about driving and joining the workforce.

She also expresses her pride at being asked as a teen to be a CHAMP Junior Counsellor.  "Not only had I come full circle, but I also became part of the 'amputees helping amputees' tradition started by The War Amps more than 90 years ago," she says.

Public support of The War Amps Key Tag Service allows child amputees across Canada to continue to grow up with CHAMP. Key tags protect any keys, not just car keys!  Since 1946, The War Amps has returned more than one million sets of keys, and the service is more vital than ever, with the extremely high replacement cost of keys and remote devices.

Each key tag has a confidentially coded number. Should the keys be lost, the finder need only call the toll-free number on the back of the tag, or deposit them in any mailbox, and the keys will be returned to the owner by bonded courier.

The War Amps receives no government grants. For more information, or to order key tags, call toll-free 1 800 250-3030 or visit waramps.ca.

For more information or to interview a War Amps representative in your area (where available), contact Communications at 1 877 60MEDIA or e-mail [email protected].  For a key tag graphic, visit waramps.ca/newsroom/stock_photos/keyadd.html or for filler PSAs, waramps.ca/psa.