Kristen McBride is putting her wheels in motion for a great cause.
The Squamish resident is taking part in Rick Hansen's third annual Wheels in Motion fundraising event at Ambleside Park June 12. She's taking part because she suffered a spinal cord injury after she was involved in a vehicle accident on July 27, 2003.
Last year, she participated in the event and raised $1,800 in just nine days.
The money was raised through donations from family members, friends and people she knows from her involvement in slo-pitch and mountain biking.
The event organized by Hansen raises money for research and to improve the quality of life of people living with a spinal cord injury in communities across the province.
Kristen is glad to see money going into research, but she isn't living her life to walk again one day, so she's very happy half the money is going into things like automatic doors for public buildings and wheelchair ramps.
"Rick Hansen says it is not if there is a cure, it is when there is a cure," she said. "I'm not living to hope that I am going to walk, I am just living to take it as it is. I'm just glad I don't have a higher level of injury."
In recognition of Kristen's fundraising efforts last year Wheels in Motion gave the District of Squamish $2,000 to install another automatic door at the Brennan Park Recreation Centre, Kristen said.
The door is yet to be installed but she is looking forward to the day when people with disabilities will be able to get into the centre with greater ease.
Kristen is inviting people from Squamish to attend the Ambleside event and participate in the 10k event."It is not a race, it is just a roll," she said. "Last year, I was so chill about it we missed pizza. I had a whole entourage. I had my friends and my whole family. We were taking pictures and it was so much fun."
More importantly, she is encouraging people to pledge her. That can be done by contacting her directly or visiting Rick Hansen's website at www.rickhansen.com. By following the links it is possible to make a donation specifically to support Kristen's fundraising initiative.
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