Owen Soden, 2026 Charity Motorcycle Ride for Lansdowne Kids youth ambassador

The Charity Motorcycle Ride for Lansdowne Kids, hosted by Ensuring Brant, is Brantford’s loudest fundraiser. The annual event – taking place this year on Saturday, July 4 – raises money to support critical programs at Lansdowne. Through the child development centre, children and youth in the community access life-changing mobility equipment, gain independence by learning life skills, and are able to have the same experiences as their peers, like going to camp, that they might never have had otherwise.

Each year, a Lansdowne youth ambassador is selected to represent all of the clients and their families whose lives will be impacted thanks to this event. For the 2026 Charity Motorcycle Ride for Lansdowne Kids, the youth ambassador is Owen Soden.

Lindsay Soden’s twin boys Liam and Owen were born premature, at 28 weeks. Both were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU); Owen was discharged after three months, and Liam was there until he was six months old.

“The day after (Owen) was discharged from the NICU, we were connected with Lansdowne,” Soden said.

“In some ways, it was overwhelming, but in many other ways, it was a big relief, and just helpful to know that we had so many different services at our fingertips so quickly.”

Both boys got support through Lansdowne from several departments, including the Infant and Child Development Program (ICDP), occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and social work.

When the boys were about a year old, the family was given the option to utilize the Kids’ Country Inn (KCI) weekend respite program for medically fragile or technologically dependent children.

“We didn't take advantage of it at first,” Soden said, noting that at first, it was just too hard to part with the boys, and that’s OK.

“Everyone has to take it at their own pace. But knowing that resource was there as a respite service was phenomenal.”

Liam went to Lansdowne until he tragically passed away a few months after his first birthday; Owen, now almost 16, continues to access programs and services through the centre.

“They’ve really watched Owen grow up, and supported us through it all,” Soden said. “It's a facility and a support system for families that need it, that is just so important for the community.”

One of Owen’s favourite programs with Lansdowne is KCI.

“When we did finally take the step to use the resource, we've never looked back,” Soden said. “Owen absolutely loves going there. … It’s one of the services that we could not live without.”

She added, “It just makes life a lot easier when we’ve had a lot of sleepless nights, and to know that you can have a weekend of rest just makes you a better parent when you go pick your kiddo up again.”

Soden noted that beyond the programs and services for the children and youth, the connections her family has made with other families through Lansdowne “has been incredible. Just to hear other people’s stories and then be able to connect and discuss … it validates your parenting in many ways, because you realize we’re all going through not necessarily the same path, but a very similar one. We can definitely all relate and get ideas from each other to help support each other.”

She said by talking with other parents and caregivers of children and youth attending at Lansdowne, it “gives you some ‘ah ha’ moments. There might be something you’re struggling with, and you don’t even think to ask that question, but someone else says something, and it just helps put other ideas or resources in your pocket that you might not have had otherwise, because other people have researched different things than you have, and you’ve researched different things than they have.”

Soden said reciprocal support and idea sharing between caregivers is important.

“When you can see a bit of relief, or maybe you share something that worked for your kiddo, and it gives that parent another idea of something to try or do, it’s nice when you can take a bit of stress off another parent’s journey.”

Soden said when your child starts attending programs and services at Lansdowne, it can feel like information overload.  

“But take it one step at a time. Just do as much as you can from the tips and stuff that’s been given to you.”

She acknowledged that sometimes it doesn’t feel like there’s enough time in the day to incorporate a recommended new exercise or therapy at home with your child, but she encouraged parents to do their best.

“Eventually, it just kind of fits into the day and it becomes part of the schedule, and everything works and flows as you readjust.”

She encouraged parents to not be shy about asking staff for more information or clarification, and to attend the workshops Lansdowne offers as your schedule allows, even if the subject isn’t something that’s immediately relevant to your child or situation.

For instance, Owen is largely nonverbal, but he does utilize a few words. Soden said they attended some speech-focused workshops when he was younger, which “gave us the tools for later on when we did need them more.”

Reflecting on the services and programs offered by Lansdowne, Soden expressed gratitude for the agency, saying the staff “have been able to help in so many different ways, with so many different aspects of Owen’s life.”

To register for the Charity Motorcycle Ride, or to learn more about how you can help support the event, visit https://www.ebrant.com/cmr/