[VIDEO] I Can I Will | How This Charity is Making Childhood Dreams Come True

Author // Shannon Edwards for Place New Farm

Remember the wild dreams you had when you were younger, to be a superhero or a world famous pop-star?

Well, 7 year old Brydi Saul dreams of being an Olympic swimmer and, despite her disability, she is determined.

I Can I Will is an incredible charity that helps change the lives of kids with disabilities through granting life changing wishes.

Run by Bulimba local and charity sponsor for Bulimba Festival, Conan Visser, I Can I Will was started with a vision to promote inclusion of under privileged children being bullied due to their special needs.

On Thursday July 6, this very special girl was granted her wish to have private swimming lessons with gold medallist Paralympian swimmer, Brenden Hall.

Watch Brydi’s special journey here.

What does the Can I Will charity do?

I Can I Will was founded four years ago with the purpose of granting wishes for underprivileged children who’ve been severely bullied due to their disability.

We don’t only grant to boost their self-confidence to chase their dream, we also do it to change their ‘cool’ status at school, with the purpose of stopping bullying.

From there, we put them through a 10 step self-development program to help them maintain those friendships they obtain.

We also promote inclusion. We have a day called ‘Day With a Disability’ that gives people the ability to sign up and learn what it’s like to live with a disability for a day and in turn raise money so we can grant more life changing wishes.  

To find out more about the charity, visit the I Can I will website.

Tell us about one of your success stories?

Recently, we granted a wish for a boy named Chase - his story will be featured on a national TV show in a couple of weeks.

After showing his video to his school, all the kids, including the bullies, came up and asked for his autograph.

He’s now a leader in the school and feels confident with his new friends.

We hope the same experience, once completed, happens for Brydi as well.