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March 2008
In October of last year I was fortunate enough to be able to participate in a wonderful and life-changing experience at Cathedral Lakes hosted by a hard working and dedicated teacher at KLO. This trip required determination, hard work and endurance by all people involved.
Although I have been camping before, I have never experienced an outdoor adventure quite like this one. This trip had many fun times but it was also challenging in many ways. Being outdoors for four days straight when it’s snowing outside is not always easy. I remember times when my whole body was sore and cold from bumping around in a Trail Rider for all of the afternoon. A Trail Rider is a little bit similar to a wheelbarrow. You sit in a slanted seat and you are pushed and pulled by two or more people. One day the snow was too deep for only Troy and Rob to pull me. All the students volunteered to get together in a line and help pull me up the mountain. Despite being in discomfort from the rocky ride, I knew the pain was worth it. After all, like the famous saying goes, “no pain, no gain!” At that moment I felt like I was at the top of the world. This truly demonstrates the power of teamwork. Without all those people helping me, the wish to go to the top of mountain would have never come true. While I should be proud of myself for fulfilling my goal, I want to thank all the people who helped me along the way.
Words truly cannot describe how much I commend all those people who did a selfless act of kindness and helped me be a part of something amazing. To be the first person with a disability ever to go up to Cathedral Lakes with KLO School is a big honor. I couldn’t have done this without the help of many people. I’d like to thank all the students who were part of Cathedral Lakes group six, Mr. & Mrs. Dick, Mr. Charles, Mrs. Rix and Mrs. Elliot and finally Troy and Rob from Community Recreational Initiatives Society (CRIS Foundation). By participating in this trip I learned that with the power of a team anything is possible. While the students and teachers may all view this adventure in different ways, we could all agree that it was a positive experience, and demonstrated our true character, not only on the outside but also within ourselves.
A special thanks to Mr. Dick, a teacher at KLO who organized the trip, for allowing me to participate in this once in a lifetime opportunity and for believing in me that I could do it.
