Are You up for the Challenge?

Weekend Warriors are Heroes for People with Disabilities

Every July, hosts a unique expedition of mountain bikers and hikers out to make a difference in the annual Banded Peak Challenge – a fundraising event supporting Easter Seals Camp Horizon to help Albertans with disabilities and special needs. In many ways, the challenge of summiting a mountain is not unlike the daily challenges faced by campers with physical and mental disabilities. Overcoming fear and exhaustion is richly rewarded with elated exhilaration, a rush of adrenaline, and a massive sense of accomplishment upon reaching Banded Peak’s summit. Adventure-seekers they may be, but for the beneficiaries of their fundraising efforts they are true heroes who help provide life-changing experiences.

18 19 The volunteers also collect draw tickets from arriving participants at each of the nine outposts for prizes such as a two-night stay at the Fairmont Banff Springs, personal fitness training from Bragg Creek Physiotherapy, or a weekend Snow & Ice training session from Yamnuska. Having to reach each outpost to enter their draw tickets provides participants with further incentive to keep pushing themselves onwards to the summit.

For many participants, the real heroes of the event are the members of the Challenge’s medic and bike-mechanic teams: fully-trained professionals from Rockyview Fire Services and Bow Cycle offering essential First Aid and mechanical support services.

Stationed throughout the length of the course, the The team organizing this unique backcountry Despite the event’s noncompetitive nature, volunteer medics are kept busy throughout the challenge is made up of 40 dedicated local each year’s Challenge features an unofficial day treating minor blisters and scrapes to help the volunteers and Easter Seals Camp Horizon one-way race to the summit, with the participants push on. Meanwhile, the crew from Bow (ESCH) staff. For some of the volunteers, the fastest recorded time posted in the 2010 Cycle offers all participants a bike safety check and challenge represents a two-day commitment, Challenge. Ferenc Jacso left the Little tune-up prior to the start, plus repairs broken chains and as they prepare for the event by spending the Elbow Recreation Area before sunrise, flat tires along the mountain path. night before on the mountain, so that they blazing past volunteers stationed on the are ready to greet the arriving participants mountain – some still in their unzipped For event organizer and ESCH director Anna Garcia, all the bright and early in the morning. tents – covering a 13.5-kilometre bike ride participants and volunteers taking part in the Challenge deserve the and a five-kilometre hike, to reach the highest praise for their selfless dedication to a very noble cause. Event founder and Bragg Creek resident summit in a remarkable two hours, 16 “Every year we are awestruck by the generosity and energy that this John Lajeunesse, who has been greeting minutes and 45 seconds. event generates, and I feel so incredibly lucky to be involved in such a participants on the summit since the remarkable event,” states Garcia. inaugural Challenge in 2001, says that Back at the staging area later in the day, last year was one of the warmest he has as Ferenc was enjoying the glory of being “The individuals, families and teams who come out to support Camp experienced at the summit, which peaks the fastest-ever participant, the news Horizon through our Challenge are amazing individuals,” she adds. at 2,934 meters above sea level. Most came in over the radio that his new record “I always come away from the event so inspired and humbled by the participants begin the event in the early was just broken by Brian Gillis, who way this community opens its hearts for children with special needs.” pre-dawn hours to give themselves enough started out a little later that morning in time to reach the summit. For some, this is defense of his 2009 title. Celebrating its 11th anniversary this year, the Banded Peak an all-day family event, requiring extra time Challenge has to date raised over $321,000 in support of Reaching the summit in two hours and to make sure everyone makes it to the top. children with disabilities, special needs and serious illnesses. 15 minutes, Brian successfully took four “The funds we raise through this event go directly toward The annual event brings together the minutes off his time from the previous providing life-changing summer camp experiences for kids very young like Bragg Creek resident Pete year – maintaining his champion status with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, diabetes, autism, muscular Verheyde, who reached the summit at the age and setting up the tantalizing prospect dystrophy, severe burns and many other special needs,” says of six – along with his enthusiastic parents of another exciting contest between Garcia, thanking event participants and sponsors for their – and the young-at-heart types like Bill these two exceptional athletes in the 2011 generosity and contributions. Founded in 1965, ESCH Gammack (right), who completed his second Challenge. That said, it is the drive and is southern ’s principal provider of outdoor Challenge in 2010 just two days before his commitment of the smiling, cheering sport and recreation programs for children and 80th birthday! A true inspiration to us all, Bill volunteers greeting participants at every adults with special needs. Administered by offers living proof of the rejuvenating powers stage of the route that make this event so Easter Seals Alberta, ESCH has hosted over of the spectacular mountains surrounding us. truly remarkable. 100,000 Albertans since 1965.

20 21 Garcia explains that ESCH is consistently able to deliver the The tests faced by the participants of the Banded Peak highest-quality programs possible by working closely with Challenge mirror the challenges many of the kids and their many of the province’s other volunteer organizations and public families face on a daily basis. The dedicated efforts of the agencies, such as: participants, along with the generous support of the event’s - Canadian Diabetes Association sponsors and donors, help make this unique summer camp - The Alberta Children’s Hospital Nephrology Clinic experience a happy reality for these very deserving kids. - The Stollery Children’s Hospital - Calgary Cerebral Palsy Association The 2011 Banded Peak Challenge is taking - Canadian Ostomy Youth Camps place July 23. If you are interested in - Between Friends Club participating in this worthwhile event, you - Alberta Fire Fighters Burn Camps can pre-register online as an individual - Canadian National Institute for the Blind participant, but if you have some friends - Deaf and Hard of Hearing Association who are also interested, why not enter as - Calgary Celiac Association a team? If you don’t want to participate Offering a broad range of specialized programs promoting cedar lodges, volleyball and basketball courts, and a 40-foot - Calgary Crohn’s & Colitis Youth but still want to show your support, you activity and vitality throughout the year, ESCH helps children giant swing. - Metis Family Services can sponsor a participating individual or and adults with special needs through residential summer camp - Calgary Board of Education team, or simply provide a donation. programs, leadership education, environmental experiential Surrounded by majestic scenery, the program’s wide-ranging learning, therapeutic recreation retreats and respites, an activities include hiking trips, environmental arts and teepee By providing a unique opportunity for campers to spend time To pre-register for this year’s event, or to find out more about the augmentative communications camp, and a memorable living, and many other physically, emotionally and socially with others facing similar medical, physical and developmental Banded Peak Challenge and Easter Seals Camp Horizon, please Christmas camp. The specialized programs are spread out over therapeutic programs. ESCH is the only facility in Alberta that challenges, ESCH helps facilitate much-needed support visit www.easterseals.ab.ca or call (403) 949 3818, extension 22. a 62-acre area, located less than a 10-minute drive from Bragg offers weekly camp programs dedicated entirely to special- networks and friendships through its activities. For many young Creek, offering a multitude of amenities – including wheelchair- needs groups. Most of the programs and equipment are unique campers, their time at the camp offers the best opportunity Watch our exclusive and inspiring video interview with John accessible high-and-low-rope challenge courses, a wheelchair- to Alberta, according to Garcia, while its Ostomy Camp is the to spend time with real friends who see them as individuals Lajeunesse (below) – the founder of the Banded Peak Challenge accessible pool, climbing and traverse walls, playing fields, only one of its kind in . rather than as a disability, providing priceless self-esteem and – where he provides more details about the history of the event, encouragement for youth who are often unable to participate in what inspired him to establish it, and what it has achieved since such activities back home due their medical condition. its inception in 2001. www.braggcreek.tv/video3 your Spending time at the camp allows campers to just be kids REALIZE VISION again – letting both adults and youths cherish the opportunity to maximize their abilities and experience vitality, personal growth, education and empowerment by being active in the great outdoors.

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The Banded Peak Challenge is a fundraising This 37 km bike and hike adventure requires 5 to 12 hours, depending on event in support of children with ability and fitness level. participants can start anytime between 5:00 am and 10:00 am, at the little elbow recreation area, at the end of hwy 66 disabilities and special needs. in Kananaskis country, 30 km South West of Bragg creek, alberta. SOUTH BRAGG CREEK proudly SupporTed By ESTATE

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