Far and Wide Trek for Developmental Disabilities: Quiet Before the Storm

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Quiet Before the Storm

The title of this blog is fitting in so many ways. Everything seems to be settling, especially the crazy weather. Sponsors seem to be coming into the picture and so many people that don't even know me seem to want to donate to the cause. I have heard so many kind words, that it makes me so happy to hear about people asking why I'm doing this and to learn about the people that I'm representing on this adventure.

With my training slowing down before the big ride my body feels relaxed, but my mind is constantly swirling with a million different emotions of excitement, uncertainty, drive, and many more teaming with anticipation for the departure date. My days are fairly simple but I also have lots to keep me busy. Sending lots of emails and networking all the connections that I will need to make this the most effective trip. It's frustrating in the sense of all the time I have to spend in front of a computer. When I would rather be outside doing things around the community. But it's ok because I know I won't much have contact with computers for over 5 months after this.

I'm starting to embrace the questions of all sorts that are directed to me. Negative and positive I've learned to appreciate all of them. Not everyone understands why I would attempt to do this. Some people have 50 questions and some have 1. The most common question is, "who is coming with you? or do you have a car following you?" This one I still have a hard time answering because one of the main reasons is that I'm trying to promote no carbon-emissions. It's not that I'm trying to put myself in harms way or trying to make it more difficult. But I feel that extraordinary things draw peoples attention to certain issue. As for having a friend cycle with me, I would have loved a partner thats always so important for motivation, safety and overall sucess of a journey. But all of the partners that I approached for the trip could not find the time which has been hard for me but it also makes it very exciting to be an individual trip.

Well I'll leave this blog on that not of the feelings before the big ride. But I will add one thing that I forgot to add to this blog previously is the article that was published in the Hamilton magazine the View. I will post the link if you get a chance check it out!

http://www.viewmag.com/viewstory.php?storyid=5919&page=4

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A little about Matthew

All my life, a life spent with a younger sister who has Down syndrome, I believed that inclusion was the way of the future, that she would graduate and become a part of the community, that she was someone who could contribute just like anyone else. I have learned that the idea, and the words around it, is still in vogue. It’s the practice that’s wanting. Since her graduation, she takes part in a day program where the only *normal* people are her supervisors. She has become invisible again, part of a protected ghetto for people with disabilities, safe from others and them safe from her.
Much of my early life was trying to educate my peers about my sister’s disability and, being a kid, sometimes landing in the occasional fight. (Certainly true with my sister, who has always been outspoken!)
It saddens me to see that we continue to isolate people with mental disabilities because we don’t understand or are uncomfortable with what we see as unbridgeable differences. I believe that we can make a positive difference in how people view each other if we make an effort to encourage understanding through education.
Having worked with organizations and institutions dedicated to helping individuals with special needs, I have firsthand knowledge of how little society as a whole understands the challenges people with mental disabilities face on a daily basis. From my work with adults and children in Hamilton, I have learned a great deal about special needs. I also learned how a few people work incredibly hard to make a few underfunded programs work as well as they do. This past fifteen months I have spent teaching in South Korea. During this time, I did considerable research into the types of support that individuals with special needs receive and how it can be improved with relatively simple steps.
From my previous experience and from my research, the idea of the Far and Wide Bike Trek was born. It seems a logical next step, a way to raise awareness and funds for people with mental challenges. My hope is that I can connect with associations and individuals along the way in an effort to get some recognition for people in communities across the land. It helps that athletics, especially cycling, is something I love and it’s an honour to do something for others that they may not be able to do for themselves. This also would enable me to meet with community leaders and charity organizations across the continent to discuss the problems people with special needs face, and to share ideas. With only negligible help on the part of the community, many of these individuals’ lives can be made infinitely more manageable.
In addition, by using a bicycle, I’m also achieving other goals. Not only is the bicycle an excellent and neglected form of transportation, it’s environmentally friendly and a great form of exercise. I think the messages that we need to care for our environment and we need to take care of our bodies through exercise are important ones as well.
Finally, outside of monetary concerns and environmental awareness, I am genuinely interested in bringing to the attention of people everywhere how capable, frequently astonishing, and incredibly special people with mental challenges are. Although there are a handful of programs (such as the Special Olympics) with this goal, I feel as if the Far and Wide Bike Trek can truly drive the point home. Please be a part of my dream. Thank you for your time.

Far and Wide Trek for Developmental Disabilities

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Quiet Before the Storm

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