Imagine, if you will, what your life would be like if it were irrevocably changed.
It could happen in a collision, a diving accident, or through an illness such as multiple sclerosis, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
In whatever way it happens, your life would be vastly different, if you had to use a wheelchair, each and every day, to get around.
While we tend to think of our society as an accessible, inclusive one, the reality is far from it.
Sidewalks lead to nowhere, or have curbs that are so high, they simply cannot be navigated by someone in a wheelchair.
Disabled parking is limited, too small, and often occupied by someone in a vehicle who clearly does not need it.
And then there are the “accessible” buildings — those that have automatic doors that open out, into the space the wheelchair operator needs, or have entrances that require going through loading docks.
There’s obviously quite a long ways to go, in creating an accessible community for those among us who have that added challenge in their lives.
The sad thing is, accessibility is far from the only challenge that the differently-abled face.
There are often increasing health-care costs associated with many of these conditions, costs that are not covered by OHIP, or even some health insurance plans. Add renovations to your house, loss of work opportunities, and you can begin to see the financial burden that many with spinal cord injuries face.
That is why it is so heartening to see the work of the Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion fundraiser, which raised in excess of $28,000 this year.
The fundraiser not only provides support for spinal cord injury research, but also helps those who are living with these injuries.
Whether it is the financial support to purchase a wheelchair, or money towards the local fledgling sledge hockey organization, this money is going a long way to help those with spinal cord injury live lives that aren’t that different from the ones the rest of us enjoy.
And while it is true that every life contains its share of hardship, isn’t it wonderful to see those times when hardship can be alleviated?
Thanks to the Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion committee, and the participants involved, Elmira is doing its part to make the lives of those living with spinal cord injury just a little bit easier.
We owe them our thanks.