Wheelchair basketball: One woman's story

Physical and mental training
I'm currently training 30 hours a week for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. As part of the training sessions, I play on women's and coed teams in Edmonton and the United States.

My training involves more than just basketball; I cross-train by kayaking, “handcycling” and cross-country skiing. I'd certainly injure myself if I played a full 30 hours of basketball every week! My training also involves mental preparedness and taking care of my body, so I try to maintain a healthy diet. I can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoy all the training, although there are some days when it's hard to push my body one more time out the door. It helps that I love working with my trainers and teammates; after a while we become a lot like family.

Off the court
Outside the court, I'm working toward my master's degree at the University of Alberta. I'm studying social policy and the phenomenon of able-bodied participation in wheelchair basketball. (Did you know that many able-bodied athletes actually choose to play wheelchair basketball? It gives them a chance to challenge themselves in different ways.) I'm particularly interested in how this represents reverse integration, which I see as a useful and understudied social tool to help increase participation of various minority groups in society.

I'm also an advocate, not just for disability rights but for all rights, including those of women, gays, lesbians and transgendered people.

Formidable achievements
Last year I was named national ambassador for Muscular Dystrophy Canada and was given the Edmonton Pride Award for outstanding contribution to the community.

Since being diagnosed with MD, I have given speeches at schools, universities and workplaces. It has offered me the opportunity to teach people that my story is no more inspirational than theirs. I stress that everyone faces his or her own struggles, and that, in some ways, we're all very much the same. It's all about challenging yourself and learning to love that challenge. Failure and loss are inevitable parts of everyone's life. It's how you see it and what you do with it that makes the biggest difference.

My body feels good these days, but I know that I'm getting progressively weaker. I recognize that MD will eventually force me to stop playing basketball altogether and embrace other passions; maybe on the sidelines as a coach. I know the day I leave will be an emotional one, but I don't fear it. What I have learned from wheelchair basketball will stay with me forever. I look forward to tackling my next opportunities and struggles with the same passion as I have for basketball.

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