Vaughan War Amps CHAMP tells kids to play it safe

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 21, 2016
By Tim Kelly

 

War Amps CHAMP Ali Jaffer loves to talk to kids about what it's like not to have a right hand.

Born without the appendage, Ali tells it like it is to children so they'll understand what they'll be missing if they don't play it safe.

The eight-year-old Grade 4 student at Vaughan's Michael Cranney Elementary School gives several talks each year to classrooms on behalf of War Amps.

In his father Adil's words, "The impact for kids is seeing what it's like to have an amputation. They realize, 'I need to think about it now,'" he said.

In a visit to Vaughan City Hall last week, Ali was presented with a cheque for $2,500 by Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua to benefit War Amps, as well as a plaque to recognize the work he does in making speeches to children.

In Ali's own words: "I start getting up there (in front of the class) and I won't stop talking," he told the mayor.

The loquacious youngster is in the gifted program at his school. The Vellore Village resident said it's difficult for him to miss something he's never had.

"It's hard for me to explain as I've never had both hands," said Ali when asked about not having a right hand.