An adaptive adventure camp held last weekend in Whistler and founded by two former Revelstoke residents was a "huge success," say its organizers.
The Live It! Love It! Foundation's camp, Freewheel Whistler, was held from Aug. 25-28 and allowed 11 young adults who suffer from various levels of quadripalegia and parapalegia to take part in a variety of sports, including bungee jumping, rock climbing, zip-lining, ATVing, kayaking and gliding over the course of the camp. They also received mental training sessions from para-sport mental training coach John Coleman.
Ethan Krueger, 22, who was injured while mountain biking last summer was voted the most inspirational participant at the camp. He received $1,000 from CLIF BAR to put towards his next adaptive adventure.
"I had such an amazing time being able to be apart of the Live It! Love It! camp," he said in a press release. "It was so good to hang out with everyone and do such crazy things. I feel very honored.”
The Live It! Love It! Foundation was started by Izzy Lynch and her boyfriend Jeff Scott after Scott broke several vertebrae in his back after a snowboarding accident at Revelstoke Mountain Resort on the last day of the 2010 ski season. Before his accident, Scott worked as a forest fire fighter and had recently made his home in Revelstoke. Lynch was the coach of the Revelstoke Mountain Freeriders ski team. Scott spent a year recovering at GF Strong hospital in Vancouver and the two moved to Whistler after his release – but not before going on a cross-Canada road trip.
The camp was made possible in part through several fundraisers held in Revelstoke. One – Mullets & Moustaches 4 Motion – raised almost $20,000 last September. This summer, the Monashee Unit Crew, of which Scott was a member, raised $2,200 through a hard labour auction.
The foundation also received a $25,000 grant from the Keg restaurant.