Meet Mason, 12-yr old 2026 Lansdowne Youth Ambassador
- Tamara Botting
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
“I remember being told there was a strong possibility that Mason may never walk, talk, or eat normally.”
At the 2026 Charity Motorcycle Ride for Lansdowne Kids, 12-year-old Mason Bowen walked around the event with a clipboard and pen, asking people to sign his paper. He also enjoyed checking out the motorcycles – particularly the red ones – and rocking out to the live music provided by BarCode.
“Mason really enjoyed it. He really loved being an active participant,” said Chrissy, Mason’s mom.
What she saw Mason doing that day was a stark difference to what his family was told to expect by medical professionals when he was born.
“I remember being told there was a strong possibility that Mason may never walk, talk, or eat normally,” Chrissy said.
Mason was diagnosed at birth with Snijders Blok-Campeau syndrome, which has caused him to have a severe intellectual disability; he also had severe hypotonia, low oxygen levels, and was unable to eat safely without aspirating.
“When Mason came home from hospital, we were completely overwhelmed. We were learning to care for a child with needs we had never experienced before,” Chrissy said. “As we were learning about Mason’s diagnosis and how to care for him, Lansdowne Children’s Centre became one of our greatest sources of support.”
Mason accessed a variety of services, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language, and social work supports.
“Lansdowne became a safe place where we did not have to explain why things were different; they understood,” Chrissy said. “Mason had an entire care team surrounding him.
That team made an incredible difference not only in Mason’s life, but in the life of our whole family.”
Chrissy gave a special shoutout to Social Worker Lorraine DeJong, who recently retired, saying, “From the very beginning, she made a world of difference in our lives. She always supported us in every way she possibly could.”
One memory that stands out for Chrissy is when Mason learned how to ride a bike.
“All his siblings were able to do that and he wasn’t,” said Chrissy.
“With the support and endless weeks of physio, we were able to reach that goal, and he rode from one end of the hallway to the other.”
Chrissy knows all too well how lost a parent can feel in the early days of their child’s diagnosis – that’s why she’s quick to remind other parents in that situation that they’re not alone.
“Reach out, and don’t be afraid to admit that you need help,” she said. “It’s overwhelming and it can be a lot to handle emotionally and just on a day to day; Lansdowne is there to help you in any way they can.”
She added,
“At the beginning, we were really fearful of the unknown. We weren’t sure where we were going to go from here. Lansdowne laid out a clear map for us.”
This year, Mason’s many accomplishments – and those of all of the other clients at Lansdowne – will be celebrated at the 2026 Heroes Walk and Roll in Brant Park on September 26; Mason will be serving as the ambassador at this year’s event.
The event is the culmination of the Heroes Walk and Roll fundraising campaign, which is on now. Lansdowne families and the rest of the community are invited to come out and celebrate with inflatable play areas, live music provided by The Shrubberies, face painting, local vendors and more.
For more information about the event, visit www.lansdownecentre.ca/heroeswalkandroll
Everyone is invited to dress up as whatever ‘hero’ means to them.
When asked who his favourite hero is, Mason said, “Spider-Man, because he’s a good superhero.”
Mason, meanwhile, is a hero to many who know and love him, including his mom.
“Mason has overcome so much in his life, but what I love most about him is that he doesn’t let his challenges define him. He’s happy, funny, loving and just loves being included,” Chrissy said.
“I think he represents exactly why these programs (at Lansdowne) matter, because every child deserves the opportunity to participate, be supported and to be celebrated.”
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