Hand cycles going to people with mobility issues
Money raised during Oct. 17 fundraising dinner to support Shelley Gautier Para-Sport Foundation
As Niagara Falls native and world-class athlete Shelley Gautier prepares to go for Paralympic gold in Tokyo next year, her charity continues to help people with disabilities take part in sport.
Gautier’s mother, Suzanne Letourneau, and local chiropractor Joanne McKinley-Molodynia, addressed Niagara Falls city council Tuesday evening about an upcoming dinner fundraiser that will bring together successful athletes and health-care practitioners while raising money and awareness to further promote the health and wellbeing of those living with disabilities.
The fundraiser, in support of the Shelley Gautier Para-Sport Foundation, is scheduled for Oct. 17 between 4-9:30 p.m. at Club Italia. There will be a five-course meal, gift table and door prizes. A table for eight can be purchased for $720 while a single ticket is $100. To purchase tickets, call 905-354-7689, email pcampigotto@cogeco.ca or visit journeybacktohealth.eventbrite.com.
The event, titled Journey Back To Health, will highlight Gautier’s life story – a physiotherapist and avid athlete who went from a rocky recovery after a cycling accident, to rocking the para-cycling world on her custom-made trike.
Gautier will be the keynote speaker.
Olympic boxer and current Niagara Falls city councillor Mike Strange will be the event’s master of ceremonies.
Gord Singleton, an Olympian and world cycling champion from Niagara Falls, will be one of the event’s speakers.
Health-care professionals and experts in a number of fields, including occupational therapy, sport nutrition, biology and advanced manufacturing services, are also scheduled to speak.
In 2001, Gautier, a practicing physiotherapist, raced mountain bikes competitively.
Holidaying in Vermont, she crashed her bike, crushing her helmet and sustaining a severe head injury.
She spent six weeks in a coma, followed by eight months in a Toronto rehabilitation hospital, learning to walk and talk again.
The resulting hemiplegia (one-sided paralysis) affects the right side of her body.
Her recovery and rehabilitation were arduous. She persevered and now lives an independent life.
In 2009, she became the first female T1 (more disabled) rider on the international paracycling scene. Since then, she has dominated her class and has won a number of world championships, and has medalled in the Paralympics.
McKinley-Molodynia, a supporter of the Shelley Gautier Para-Sport Foundation, said the charity continues to increase access and bring more resources to Niagara for people living with disabilities.
She said all the money raised from the Oct. 17 fundraiser will be used to provide hand cycles for those living with mobility issues.
McKinley-Molodynia said Gautier, who has “climbed up” from suffering a life-changing injury, recognizes the importance of helping those in a similar situation be more active and fit.
Strange described Gautier as a “unbelievable” woman, whose story “should be a documentary” on a national sports network.
He brought forward a motion, which was approved, that each councillor consider purchasing a ticket for the fundraising dinner.