Walking – and rappelling – for those who can’t

Most of us have heard about ‘The Golden Rule’, which asks you to do for others what you hope they would do for you.  Some people need an occasional helping hand, while others depend on constant care, due to different mental or physical circumstances.

According to the website of the Society for Manitobans with Disabilities — www.smd.mb.ca — there are over 210,000 Manitobans with disabilities of some kind, and the number continues to rise.

The SMD Foundation/Easter Seals Manitoba organizes fundraising campaigns each year in an effort to provide services and programs for youth and adults in need.

The 13th annual Easter Seals Drop Zone is scheduled for Tues., Aug. 22, and for those who don’t know, it is an event at which participants rappel down the side of the Manitoba Hydro building  after earning the right to do so by fundraising a minimum of $1,500 each.

All participants who complete the Drop Zone event join the exclusive Superhero Club for Easter Seals. Since 2005, $15 million has been raised by over 8,000 superheroes.

One such superhero is Tyla Turman. Tyla has many roles — sister, daughter, nurse, healthy living role model, hockey chick, curler, photographer, marathon runner, and building rappeller.

Tyla and I are also cousins-in-law, and we share a bond that can only come from me piggy-backing her through a pigpen on her family farm, wearing boots that were easily two sizes too big for me, in lots of mud —you can imagine what happened next.

Tyla first participated in the Easter Seals Drop Zone in 2011. I asked her why this was such an important event to her.

"I saw it as an exciting challenge then looked further into it," she said. "I am surrounded daily by individuals who have either been affected by disability themselves or others close to them. I am able-bodied, so I am moving for those who can’t. I also wrote the names of everyone who pledged me last time inside my cape, so they could rappel with me."

One of this city’s biggest assets, is its passionate volunteer base, eager to help others. Our volunteers are rappelling down buildings, hammering houses together with Habitat For Humanity, working at the Canada Summer Games and much more. They make time to help others and strengthen this great country we call home.  I know that someday soon we will find a way to celebrate Canada together.

Visit Tyla’s fundraising page here.

Wanda Prychitko is a community correspondent for St. James-Assiniboia. Contact wprychitko@yahoo.ca