Selena Yorke is a charming, inspirational and hope-provoking 11-year old girl. She has incredibly caring parents, great friends and a very supportive older brother. She shares her birthday and a passion for the color purple with Justin Bieber, whom she adores. She also has a disease: Friedreich’s Ataxia, an unforgiving, progressive neuromuscular disorder for which there is no cure.
Canadian Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co. employees were so moved by Selena’s story that they asked their president Robert J. Hartley II to step up for Selena and her family. On the company’s behalf and at its employees’ behest, Hartley said yes, twice. Safe Step donated its top-of-the-line walk-in tub as well as a walk-in shower to the Yorkes as part of the company’s Safe Step Cares program, a nationwide initiative to provide state-of-the-art tubs to those in need.
Canadian Safe Step even brought her tub in a box in her favorite color: purple.
“Whoa!” said Selena, as the purple box was removed to reveal her gift. “It’s got a bar, it’s got jets, it’s like a hot tub,” she continued before getting into the tub.
Safe Step says Selena is the first Canadian honoree—and second overall—of Safe Step Cares and that the company intends to keep giving back to the communities it serves on a regular basis.
“Today is about Selena,” said Hartley. “She is a delightful young lady and we’re here to assist her in her quality of life. Safe Step changes lives every day and we could not be more thrilled to change Selena’s life today.”
Selena’s day did not end with the tub and shower donation. Friends and family pulled together A Night for Selena at the Cascades Casino Resort in Langley. The event raised more than $26,000, which will be used for necessary for renovations on the Yorke’s home to accommodate their beloved daughter. Additional donations can be made through Toronto Dominion Bank, account #9194-524-1677, cheque/check payable to A Night for Selena.
“It’s great to know that you have support and that you don’t have to do this alone,” said Selena’s brother.
“To get this type of help from people, some you don’t even know, is overwhelming,” added Selena’s father Brad Yorke.
“We have such amazing friends and family,” said Selena’s mother Cari Yorke. “Safe Step not only gave a Selena a tub and shower but they also have given her comfort and independence and brought awareness to her disease. This gift to us is life-changing because Selena loves baths.”
She also loved the purple box.