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- DEFYING THE ODDS
I came out screaming! I wasn't supposed to live for my 1st birthday My name is Sheree. Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita or AMC, is a rare physical disability that I was born with. This disability is rare because, only 1 in 17,000 babies in Australia, are born with it. The way I can describe it: my shoulders only have slight movement, my elbows and knees have weak muscle tissue and my joints are stiff, so they both only bend a little. Doctors told my parents that I wouldn't survive birth and my mum had the choice of going full-term and giving birth to a still-born baby, or take pot luck. I came out screaming! I wasn't supposed to live for my 1st birthday. When I survived that, I was told I wouldn’t be able walk independently. I have continued to prove people wrong with their ''predictions'' At 5 years old, I started walking on my own because my family never gave up. I have continued to prove people wrong with their ''predictions'' and defied the odds of becoming a mother. 3 years ago, I moved out with my husband Chris and just recently gave birth to our beautiful baby Hayden. Although you may think, me looking after a baby sounds challenging (which it can be), I enjoy him cuddling up to me, we do tummy time together and we go for walks in the pram. My husband does an amazing job of looking after both of us, sometimes at the same time (haha). The only thing that is hard right now, is not having a car. Looking after our baby is nothing compared to trying to manage a fundraiser and raise money for a car. Without a car, I cannot get around as easy, because my body can't handle walking in the cold weather (it's winter here in Australia).
- Shredding hard through all aspects of life despite my disability
How on earth will I ever do this? There was a time when I was one of those people who believed "I can't do this because I lost my leg." It wasn't until my great friend Ryan Hood pushed me and believed in me that I could skate again. I had heard of ONE person that skated with a prosthetic but being without medical insurance, I thought there was no way I would ever feel the vibrations of a board rolling across the payment. I went on with my life working and pushing myself. But something was missing. I didn't have other amputees pushing me. I didn't know what to do but one day Ryan Hood gave me a board and made me do it. I was reluctant. I was scared. How on earth will I ever do this? Eventually, I met others like me. They shredded hard. They welcomed me. It didn't matter that I was just learning. They were so pumped that I was there and trying. I felt accepted and I knew it was possible that I could one day be as good as them. After time, these people opened my eyes and put a fire in me. I knew I had to do something to help others in the same situation so I started ASK! With the help of so many people we have offered a few clinics in a few different cities. I'm so thankful for the ability to pass on what Ryan, Gershon, Oscar and Justin gave to me. My freedom of my own self value! I can never repay them for that. But I can pass on what I learned from them. You can do anything. Learn to adapt and never stop pushing!
- MY LOVE FOR BLOGGING
Get up - it doesn't matter if you are disabled - you can reach whatever you'd love to reach I am only 20 years old - and I do have a muscular dystrophy. That's why I am dependent on a wheelchair. But I don't feel like I am constrained into the wheelchair. The wheelchair helps me to get to the places I want to get. It helps me to meet my friends, have parties with them, and take walks with dogs or just on my own. I will probably never jog (jogging) but always blog: I started my Blog a few years ago. You can find it at: www.lauraimrolli.com. I am half Italian, I like to visit other places, and I speak english quite good even if it isn't my mother tongue. And so I decided to blog bilingual - about the problems I have to face each day/ week when I go out of my apartment: all the places, which aren't barrier-free yet. However, I also do like to pick out the positive things! Get up - it doesn't matter if you are disabled - you can reach whatever you'd love to reach. Just like me. I always wanted to write - not only on my blog but also for newspapers. And now I do.
- DANCING WITH THE STARS
For Venezuelan Dads, dancing with their daughters at their quinceañera party is a big deal When I got hurt almost 6 years, after realizing I would never walk again, there was a thought that haunted me every night before the drugs would knock me down in a deep sleep. The thought that haunted me was not about being able to provide for my family or work or anything like that. At the end I knew that everything would be all right. The thought that haunted me was rather how I was going to dance with my daughters at their quinceañera parties? And how was I going to walk them down the aisle. You see, for Venezuelan Dads, dancing with their daughters at their quinceañera party is a big deal. As a Dad it is something that I have dreamed of all my life. The good news at that time, was that my older daughter was only ten and my twin daughters were only 5. This meant that there was time for the awaited cure to arrive and give me back my ability to walk so that I could happily dance with my daughters. Unfortunately, the cure never came. As the birthdate approached, my anxiety grew. When it was inevitable, I came to the realization that at the end what really mattered was that I was the first man my daughter danced with upon turning 15, regardless of whether I danced on my feet or on my wheels. That is the way I convinced myself that it would be OK. As I saw my beautiful girl come towards me, walked by my handsome son, I completely forgot that I was on wheels The day came and OH MY GOD! As I saw my beautiful girl come towards me, walked by my handsome son, I completely forgot that I was on wheels. The pride, the happiness and the love invaded my heart in a way that the wheels became completely irrelevant. My son escorted my daughter to me and she started floating in my arms. I forgot what we rehearsed, I forgot that I was surrounded by 200 people, I was immersed in the most amazing feeling of happiness that anybody could imagine. The fact that I was so lucky to be her dad and that among the millions of men in this world, I was the one who was dancing with her at her quinceañera was more than enough to make me the happiest man on the planet. The rush of that moment was so big that it lasted all night and lingered in my heart for days afterward. The chair was completely transparent to them Now dancing is something natural. The wheels don’t matter. It is about the feeling. It is about moving to the beat of the music. I was so convinced of that until my daughter (who is a real dancer) let us know that parents were invited to also bring a dance number to compete in this big dance competition. In my head I told myself NO WAY!!! I am not doing that. Then again, the voice of my three daughters asking me to do it melted my heart. The chair was completely transparent to them. They just wanted their parents to be in the parents dance number the same as all the other parents. So I said YES. Let’s do it. We rehearsed for 6 weeks. A couple of days before the actual competition we had to rehearse in front of the Dance Company kids. I felt as nervous as I felt when I had my first job interview. I was going to dance in front of 50+ amazing dancers. I did not want to embarrass my daughters. What a pressure! We did it. As we (the parents) were dancing, all the kids started cheering and screaming. I felt like a STAR. As I was dancing, the smile in my daughters faces fueled my energy, I really felt like a hip hopper. I was actually looking forward to the big day. The big day came. We performed in front of probably 500 people. I knew my three daughters were watching us. The energy of the room erased my wheels from my mind. I was dancing. I was dancing with the stars. It was so much fun that the 4-minute dance felt like a 4-second dance…. When everyone gave us a standing ovation, I was like WHAT? Is it over? Can we dance again? My wheels did not matter. What really mattered was that I felt the energy, I enjoyed the 4 minutes and the journey and most importantly that my daughter’s dad was there with all the other dads and moms making them proud. I can’t wait to experience these feelings again. I can’t wait for the next dance competition. I can’t wait for my twin daughter’s quinceaneras.
- HARD WORK PAYS OFF
No matter what life brings you, you can do anything with a positive attitude and hard work My name is Jack Harvey and I’m a pro WCMX rider. WCMX stands for wheelchair motocross. I have a disability that is called Spina Bifida. This is a defect of the spinal cord which causes paralysis. Many doctors told me that I would have a bad life and I could never be independent. My parents didn’t agree with them. They were determined to make me independent, and also love life. My biggest achievements would be that I have been able to find true happiness, success, and I am able to help others through the sport I love, WCXM! I am so proud to know that I have achieved my dream and became the world’s youngest pro WCMX rider. At this point I want to be an encouragement to other to never give up and live their dreams to the fullest. No matter what life brings you, you can do anything with a positive attitude and hard work.
- LIFE IS A BACKFLIP
It also doesn't hurt that my Box Wheelchair is basically a BMX bike on steroids I was born with Cerebral Palsy, and the one and only thing I have ever truly wanted in life was to get where I wanted to go. To participate in life, instead of watching it from the sidelines. I started using a wheelchair at 27 years old, and while I'm now able to go wherever I want (barring some accessibility issues) I've discovered that life is even more amazing and experiences are richer than I had ever imagined. It also doesn't hurt that my Box Wheelchair is basically a BMX bike on steroids. With wheels underneath me I'm able to do crazy things in the skatepark, but to me even going to the grocery store is just as thrilling as a backflip!
- SHOOT FOR THE STARS
I believe in shooting for the stars and landing on the moon Hi, I'm Ben. I am a T53 wheelchair racer focusing on the 100m and 400m events. I love making my wheelchair go as fast as I can make it go, training daily and pushing my body to it’s limit every time I am out in my racer or in the weight room. I believe in shooting for the stars and landing on the moon. You set a goal and work as hard as possible to achieve the goal and the feeling is amazing.
- Dream the impossible!
Just dare to dream Hi, my name is Ulla and I am 30 years old and I have 2 kids. I was paralyzed in 2002 in a snowboarding accident. Now I race with motorcycles. I'm the first paraplegic female racer in the world! I adapted my bike to myself. This was my lifelong dream and now I'm doing it! Through racing and telling my story, I want to show people that everything is possible. Just dare to dream. Dream the impossible, and with hard work and determination, you can achieve anything, disabled or not!
- WHATEVER YOU TRY TO DO IS POSSIBLE
The doctors said if I wasn't in such good physical condition I would have most likely died In May of 2014, I was in the best shape of my life. I ran the soldier field 10 mile race in 1:05:24 (6:32 pace) and I'm 6'5". I had a resting heart rate of 52bpm. Why this is important is because in June of 2014, I crashed on my motocross bike practicing for a race. After, I was airlifted to the hospital and the dust settled. I had broken my back, four ribs, my right collarbone (again) separated my spinal column from my hip and my brain was bleeding. Fortunately the bleeding stopped quickly and I only lost memory and vision for a couple weeks. I also had multiple transfusions of blood during my six hour surgery. The doctors said if I wasn't in such good physical condition I would have most likely died. I don't have to be your inspiration, but I can show you that whatever you try to do is possible I spent the next three months at RIC in Chicago for rehabilitation. And months after in outpatient. I'm now classified as an l1 incomplete. I enjoy sled hockey and wheelchair football but crossfit freedom is where it's at. They have taken my wife Jessica and I in like family. Even though my legs will never work again there are so many things that I can do that no able bodied person will ever come close to. I don't have to be your inspiration, but I can show you that whatever you try to do is possible!
- Cerebral Palsy Go-Karting
Thanks to all my family and friends! Hi I’m Rhys. I’m 11 years old. I’m in a wheelchair because I have Cerebral Palsy. I like PS3, PS4 and X-box. But I mostly like my go-kart. It is hand controlled. I have 2 brothers and 1 sister. Thanks to all of my family and friends who are always there for me.
- ONE LIFE, ONE CHANCE
Never doubt your ability My name is Ashley and I'm 27 years old. My disability is called Arthrogryposis which effects my legs and curved spine. I took up wheelchair racing and wheelchair basketball and I have achieved a lot in short space of time. Sports have inspired me and made me accept my disability. My life motto: one life, one chance. Never doubt your ability.
- AIMING FOR A 10 HANDICAP
When your on the course you forget your injury, its just you and the ball. Hi I'm Jeff. Before I got hurt, I was an avid golfer. I played with my family and friends and I even liked to compete. I wanted to become under a 10 handicap. Then I had my accident. I have an L2 injury, and I so badly wanted to believe that I could play golf again. One day, I came across Stand Up & Play and I took to it. It was like I never stopped! I have been playing on and off for the past 4 years, and I can hit the ball over 200 yards which I find to be amazing! When your on the course you forget your injury, its just you and the ball.












