This winter I coached a blind/disabled ski student at the Special Olympics Winter Games.  I learned more about courage, spirit, determination and conviction from Mary (name has been changed) than from any other experience in my life.  No Joke.  Here's the story -

I volunteer at the Elodora Special Recreation Program  as a Supervisor/Ski Instructor.  Our all volunteer program provides opportunities for individuals with any disability to experience the fun of outdoor winter recreation by learning to cross country or downhill ski, snow board or snow shoe.  The disabilities we see range from cognitive injuries to the brain, development, emotional or learning disabilities, downs syndrome, autism, amputees, cerebral palsy, you name the disability, we work with it. (Ernie, we used your projector for our annual silent auction fundraising event - so this is the story I promised!)

This year I had the opportunity to be Mary's coach at the regional games, as well as the State finals.  Mary has been skiing a long time, she is a regular at our program.  She became disabled as a child due to a severe car accident.  She is legally blind, has developmental and cognitive disabilities, diabetes, as well as physical limitations with her leg and hip.  She loves baseball and football, and can talk batting averages, player trades, and other stats better than anyone I've ever heard.  She, and her companion dog Aggie, spend almost every weekend day at our program.  She rides the bus up from Boulder, and we know she's arrived when we hear the air brakes sound just outside our trailer.   Someone always heads out to help guide Mary in the building.

Mary, Rob (another coach) and I head to Copper Mountain in late March for the big event.  Mary did very well at regionals, making all her gates and skiing well.  Here is a picture of Mary and me on the course at the regional event at Eldora Mountain:

We have two different events, the super G and giant slalom, on different days.   She was determined to do well, and wouldn't consider any other option.  The course was very tough.  She missed a gate, just didn't quite make the turn, and missing a gate means you are disqualified from that event.  But, no, not Mary, she refused to be disqualified. 

She climbed back up hill, then skied backwards to me, and made the second pass. This is activity alone is amazing given her phyical challenges, but what I haven't mentioned yet is that her ski tips are bungeed together because of her weak leg. And she did this 4 times, each time we missed a gate. She wasn't willing to quit.

It was an honor for me to participate, and extremely humbling. 

More to come:  opening ceremonies, and the dance.  (Yes, dance.  After all this exhausting fun competition on the slopes, there is a rockin' party - all the athletes and coaches enjoy a huge dance.  The athletes stayed till the bitter end, but I'm was a wimp!  Couldn't make it through the party!)