Last year 3008 brought you a story about a special morning tea held at Grossi Florentino Restaurant for a very special group of children with cerebral palsy. It’s great to bring you further news about the great work of CPEC, (Cerebral Palsy Education Centre) as Docklands set the scene on March 17th for the launch of Tassie for Tyler.

The launch was to raise awareness, funds and sponsorship for CPEC and in honour of little Tyler Parfuss who attends CPEC and has recently progressed to walking unaided in what his dad, Mark, attributes to ‘A Christmas Miracle’ well before any possible expectation, thanks to the amazing work of the CPEC and steely determination from Tyler.

Victorian Police Officers James Jenkinson and Steve Wigg departed Wilsons Prom on March 22nd and will sea kayak totally man powered across Bass Strait to Tasmania to raise awareness and attract sponsorship to enable further participation in CPEC’s student programs.

It is estimated that every 18 hours a child is born with one of the five stages of cerebral palsy (CP) and although not usually life threatening, CP has a great affect on the quality of life for these children. This disease is the largest disability to affect Australian children and yet it is the least understood or spoken about. The miraculous work of CPEC is allowing children a chance at living the best quality of life possible.

For young Tyler, his passage has so far been an extremely progressive one and his dad, Mark, attributes his rapidly accelerated progress almost completely to CPEC, which has seen young Tyler literally take off walking to the astonishment of his therapists and family. “Prior to bringing Tyler to CPEC we saw little to no progress, from the fastest bum-shuffler in town we were amazed to see him take off on his own walking, far in advance of what we ever expected was possible,” said Mark Parfuss.