Wheelchair athlete Kristen McBride is determined to make all local amenities accessible to chair-bound residents, and to make her goal a reality she'll represent Squamish in the Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion fundraiser Sunday, June 10. Wheels In Motion is held in communities across Canada to raise funds to support quality of life projects and research leading to a cure.
"It's cool because everyone's there for the same reason," she said.
Twenty years ago, Rick Hansen wheeled around the world, fuelled by the dream of a fully accessible and inclusive society, and a cure for spinal cord injury. McBride appears to have a similar enthusiasm - it's the fourth year she's signed on to the event, and much of the thousands of dollars she's raised in that time have already gone toward addressing access problems in Squamish.
The Brennan Park recreation centre now has automatic doors throughout the facility as well as by the pool thanks to Wheels in Motion funding. But more can be done, said McBride.
"I hope to get an elevator in the rec centre so people can access the mezzanine," she said. When McBride took over teaching children's music classes at the centre, the classroom had to switch locations from the mezzanine to the gym because the upper floor is only accessible by stairway. She also hopes elderly visitors will soon have access to the upper floor.
"I think the rec centre should be accessible to everyone," she said. "It's a nice room up there."
McBride spends a lot of time focusing on helping local residents in wheelchairs. She is one of the organizers of GK Ripper, an annual fundraiser that donates proceeds to helping residents with serious spinal chord injuries.
And much like Rick Hansen, McBride also inspires through athletic achievements. She's helped the B.C. Coast 'B' team win a silver medal at the Coloplast 2007 Canadian Wheelchair Rugby Championships in Edmonton on May 6. The team also won silver in 2006, and is sure to win gold next year, said McBride.
Friends and family will join McBride at Ambleside Park at 11 a.m. June 10 for the walk and wheel event. To make a pledge or for more information on how to get involved go to www.wheelsinmotion.org.
