Jonathan Pitre: 'Wings of Steel' HD

A group of renowned Canadian sports broadcasters have teamed up with a national award-winning fundraising group to announce a major campaign to support Jonathan Pitre’s year-long medical treatment in the United States. TSN’s James Duthie, Brent Wallace and Shawn Simpson, together with Ottawa Media Group’s Kimothy Walker and her Platinum Team fundraising partners Joan Weinman and Derek Donaldson announced the North American campaign on July 22, 2016. Jonathan is the 16-year-old known as the “Butterfly Child”, who was featured on the NHL Awards prompting the song by Ottawa singer-songwriter Tara Shannon to go viral. Jonathan suffers from recessive dystrophic EB, an excruciating and often fatal disease. While his up-coming stem cell transplant in Minnesota offers hope, his family has no financial ability to travel and live there for the year required for Jonathan’s groundbreaking medical treatment. The fundraiser aims to raise enough money to cover the family’s expenses for the year. In his current condition, Jonathan’s skin is fragile, like the wings of a butterfly, which means it is very difficult to keep it on his body. He is in constant pain, enduring severe blistering of his skin. His whole body is wrapped in gauze to prevent infection and blisters. The fundraiser features two parts: First, the Platinum team will raise funds through the sale of a limited edition T-shirt that features the iconic symbol of EB - a butterfly - on the front and the words, “Butterfly Effect: Small movements can change the world” on the back. All of the proceeds will go to Jonathan’s family to support his year- long treatment at St. Jude’s in Minnesota. “We believe that small movements, like the motion of a butterfly, can truly change the world,” said Kimothy Walker, partner with The Platinum Team. “Through our Wings of Steel campaign, we are asking people to wear their support … to join us in making a small movement – buying his $20 T-shirt – and help change Jonathan’s world.” The second part of the campaign is a about awareness building. The Platinum team is launching a North American social media blitz with Jonathan’s Canadian and American friends, including some of his big name NHL fans. Their intention is to ‘shout out’ to the Ellen Show, asking her to feature Jonathan and boost fundraising and awareness.