The Guardian (Charlottetown)

Cameron becomes an ambassador

Charlottet­own native joins Team KidSport P.E.I.

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Kristen Cameron has joined Team KidSport P.E.I.

“I’m very excited to be part of Team KidSport on P.E.I. and generate awareness for such a great cause,” she said. “When I think about where I would be without sport it genuinely scares me. The values I have learned, the relationsh­ips I have made and the confidence I have gained through sport is what keeps me going.

“Every kid should have this opportunit­y. Kids with disabiliti­es have even more barriers to physical activity, let alone the financial side of participat­ing. This is why it is so very important to me.”

A Charlottet­own native, Cameron grew up spending summers on the soccer field and winters in the rink. At 17, she made the move to New Hampshire to further pursue hockey and soccer at Holderness School. From there, Kristen was admitted to Bowdoin College and in her tenure, had the opportunit­y to play hockey, soccer and golf. While at Bowdoin, Kristen captained both the hockey and golf teams and earned first team all-American honours in hockey.

After Bowdoin, Kristen served as an assistant coach for Mercyhurst University, a Division I women’s hockey program. The Lakers were ranked first every week that season and saw a Frozen Four appearance.

Just a couple weeks into the beginning of her second season with the Lakers, she was struck by a drunk driver while cycling and paralyzed from the chest down with very limited hand function.

Instead of turning away from sport, she gained strength in regaining her athletic identity. Cameron has most recently put her coaching on hold to pursue a new Paralympic dream in the sport of wheelchair rugby. She is working hard hoping to represent Canada at the 2020 Games in Tokyo.

KidSport raises funds to distribute it in grants to families across P.E.I. The grants are used towards registrati­on and or equipment.

Cameron is the second paraathlet­e to join Team KidSport P.E.I.

KidSport’s largest fundraiser of the year is taking place on March 9. Cooking for KidSport involves P.E.I.’s top five sport organizati­on battling it out on the culinary stage. Visit cookingfor­kidsport.ca for more informatio­n. For more details about KidSport, visit kidsport. ca/pei.

 ?? SUBMITTED ?? Kristen Cameron is ready to help out KidSport P.E.I. She is the charity’s latest ambassador.
SUBMITTED Kristen Cameron is ready to help out KidSport P.E.I. She is the charity’s latest ambassador.

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