Hi everyone,

September is my 60th Birthday month!  Woot! Woot!  It’s a very big deal to me!  And here is why:

I usually do something major for each decade Birthday.  In the past it’s been something physical, challenging and scary that I haven’t done before. For my 50th I went zip lining at Grouse Mountain. That was back when I was still getting around quite well with my walker.  Which made it possible to hike all the way back up the mountain with our group.  It felt pretty darn exhilarating—my competitive side wants you to know I rocked it all the way back up, leading the pack!  💪🏿

This year I’m not picking something physical. There is still fear involved, but I’m choosing passion instead.  I’m championing a fundraiser for Pacific Assistance Dogs Society, aka (PADS).  The scary part is setting a crazy goal ($1500) and asking you to consider giving your hard-earned money to my favourite charity.

A little history before I share about PADS. I was formally diagnosed with the neuromuscular disease, Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia, (HSP), back in 1996, 22 years ago.  It’s considered a slowly progressive disease.  I started out needing to use a cane, now I’ve progressed to a wheelchair.  It’s a very rare disease that I inherited from my Mother, who also lived with HSP.  HSP was never talked about in our house, I was the only child out of 3 to inherit the disease, and it’s been lonely in a way I cannot describe.

Back to PADS

It has become my passion.  About 5 years ago I started noticing PADS Service Dogs—that I’d always been drawn to—in a whole new way.  Everything had gotten difficult for me to do on my own. Outings and errands stopped being enjoyable, they just left me sore and drained.  I was in my chair at the grocery store one day and noticed a woman in a wheelchair with a PADS Service Dog.  It really hit me at that moment that I could use that kind of help.  I was never the type to seek help, but I knew that I was feeling overwhelmed facing HSP on my own. Depression comes along with this type of continuing physical deterioration and it was definitely impacting me.

I immediately started researching all about PADS to see if I was even eligible for a service dog. Because I’m so independent, I tend to think that I shouldn’t need help.  What if PADS felt the same? But once I’d gathered all the information I needed, I put in an application to PADS.

After the application and interview, I was accepted onto the waitlist for a Service Dog July 6, 2015. Shortly after that, the wait list for Service Dogs closed – I was told PADS was financially unable to keep up with the demand until further notice.  I had just made it in! I knew even with this good news, it could be 3 or 4 years.  I was ready right then and worried how much my condition would change by the time I got a dog.

In the over 3 years since I was added to the wait list, it’s been emotionally trying at times to stay positive, but I have been blessed to meet so many of the wonderful PADS family – volunteers and staff.  I’ve found my passion again and a purpose.  bringing as much attention and much-needed funds to PADS as I can. PADS is a not for profit society that depends on donations to continue its amazing work. I can help them reopen that wait list… and reduce that 3 to 4-year wait list.

Such joy comes from raising and donating money, my used mobility equipment for their training center even sponsoring a puppy (I’d probably stand on my head if I could do that too!)!