Our Fourth SWWR

I can't believe that this will be the 4th time we have had a group of family and friends come out to walk with us. To take the time to show their support, and to care, really care about raising awareness about spina bifida.

Our walk this week is going to be Sunday June 23rd and will repeat our walk from last year along the Oshawa Lakeshore.

Pamphlet - SWRR 2013 by Amanda Ridding

Over the last 4 years we have gathered for a weekend in June, in rain and shine, hot and cold. But we have gathered and we have walked. Even years that walking was not an option for everyone, they still came out to cheer us on. To cheer Nick on.
And Nick's Cheering Squad is still going strong.

2012

 

2011

2010

So this year we are going forward with another Spirit Wheel Walk Run.
If you are interested in support us this year you can make online donations at

http://www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?CharityID=s10136

Click on 'donate now'
Enter donation amount
Choose the 'Fund/Designation'
Pick SWWR- Nick's Cheering Squad (Ridding Family) from the list.

Thank you!
If you are interested in joining us this year, we will be meeting at the beach of Lakeview Park, Oshawa. Picnic to follow.

Spreading Awareness

June is Spina Bifida awareness month in Canada.

I had some co-workers suggest putting together something quick to educate everyone about spina bifida.
So this is what I put together.
5 minutes to balance education and the scary medical information, with what that actually looks like.


Yes spina bifida has diagrams and long words and scary pictures.

But what is really important is the sound of laughter and the look on your child's face when they look at you, and the sound of their voice they tell you they love you.

Symbolic

There is a new icon out there.

We have all seen this symbol.

 

Everyone knows what this symbol means.
They might call it by different names and terminology. You (might) say handicap sign, I say accessible sign. 

What does the above icon say to you. Everyone knows it, has seen it before and may never have thought twice about what it actually says to you. It is a very stagnant picture, passive. Someone sitting there to be moved and helped by others.

Now what does it say to you when you look at the icon below?
Does it say handicapped? Is it passive?



 

This icon was a project that was developed to transform that international and traditional symbol of access. It started as a research study at Gordon College in the US, and has been in the news recently. There is a site called The Accessible Icon Project to raise awareness and promote this new version of a traditional icon.

A lot of thought went into the icon. How/Why is every part of the symbol the way it is?
The head position, the arm angle, the wheels all to promote forward motion and activity. The idea that it is accessibility that is the issue and the purpose of this symbol; and not that it is because the wheelchair user (or the person who has the placard and uses it) has a disability/challenge.

Take a look at the website (if you are interested). They sell stickers to go over traditional parking lot signs as well as stencils for the  parking lot. I think it's a fantastic idea and would like to bring it to my own neighborhood and workplace!

Long weekend fun!

It was a fun weekend for everyone

Including the furry-family

But I think everyone was tired - except for the kids

 They kept going and going and going

Stopping for a quick refuel - and yes Nick would have eventually made it through the whole bowl.

Hopefully this is the sign of the fun to come this summer!

 

The Smore

So I have a confession to make. I have never had actual smores before. Yes I know the concept and have had smores-flavored things before. But have never done the smores-by-the-campfire before.

I guess that's why you have kids!

(And the grandmother who gets the packaged kit)

The first is my specialty - toasting the marshmellows
Yum!

And then squishing all of the peices together.

The first taste!

 Then round 2!

... and round 3
(between the kids and adults, we probably had half of that kit left for the next time)

One of my favorite parts of the cottage, is the campfire.
And the kids are old enough right now to appreciate it as well - during the daylight.

Katheryn likes finding sticks for the fire

Nickolas liked the getting dirty in the sand part.

Next time - PJ's after the fire!