Bookstore Raises Money for Blind Customer

Audiobook Connection in Burlington, Ontario, will hold a fund-raiser on April 5 to try to raise $10,000 to buy equipment for Shannon Duross, an 11-year-old audiobook listener. Shannon started losing her sight at age six, and can only distinguish light from dark. She needs the equipment to help her do her schoolwork. "Shannon now has a Perkins Brailler that is the weight and size of an old metal typewriter," explained Len Birkby, owner of Audiobook Connection. "She needs a Braille Lite Recorder that can take notes that she can translate later."

The store is looking for donations of items or services that can be auctioned off during the fund-raiser. The store is also taking cash donations and has posted a chart showing donations-to-date in the window of the store; the chart, illustrated by a local artist, features a scene of wizardry and dragons in honor of Shannon's favorite audiobooks, the Harry Potter series. "So far we have collected more than $1,000, and have high hopes of reaching our target," said Birkby. Birkby can be reached at audiobks@sympatico.ca or (905) 333-8973.