"Timmy" Jacket

Date1971

Credit LineGift of Robert Sweeney, Anaheim Hills, California, USA, 2016.

Object number2016.051.001

Label TextBob Sweeney, born in 1958, was premature and either suffered oxygen deprivation during delivery or after his birth, the consequence of which is that he lives with cerebral palsy. At the age of three, he began to receive physical therapy at the Crippled Children’s Treatment Centre. His physical therapist was Mrs. Valentine. Beginning in the late 1940s or early 1950s, the Easter Seals selected children from across Canada to be “Timmy,” a spokesperson/ambassador for their region – in 1979 the first “Tammy” was chosen. In 1971, Bob became “Timmy” for the London region. For a year, he participated in a variety of events that helped raise funds for Easter Seals and which directly benefited the Crippled Children’s Treatment Centre. One of the events was “1st Annual “Timmy” Carnival featuring the Highbury Imperial Centre Royals hockey team playing against the Morpeth Old “V’s.” Bob, in his role as “Timmy,” attended. He is featured at the back of the program, along with the message he helped to write. He was given the jacket at this event, as well. The name “Timmy” was chosen by Easter Seals, making reference to Charles Dickens’ Tiny Tim.

NameJacket