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IIIDaring Canadians headed for KathmanduTORONTO (CP) — A group of 14 daring Canadians, including four with physical disabilities, u heading for Kathmandu, Nepal, this weekend for a demanding trek in theatlon for the March of Dimes, In an Interview.“It is expected the group will collectively surprise themselves and each other with what they are able to accomplish,” she added.rugged wilderness of the Himalayas.“It’s going to be a challenge for everyone,” says Tracy Schmitt of Pickering, Ont., bom with deformities to all her limbs.IThe three-week adventure, more than a year In the planning, is being sponsored by the Ontario March of Dimes and the Nova Scotia-based Association for Health, Learning and Leisure, although individuals have to pay mo6t of their own expenses,.The idea behind disabled people going to one of the roost beautiful, but mountainous, parts of the world is to encourage selfesteem and self-confidence,” said CatherineDaytime temperatures In Nepal now are a balmy 20 degrees Celsius or so, falling to near freezing at night, Smart said. The party will follow welt-travelted trails, from about 7 a,m. until 3 p.m. each day. They’ll stay overnight in village huts along the way.' The group, ranging in age from early 20s to early 60s, has been doing special training for the ordeal and all must be capable of looking after their own needs, such as hygiene, any medication required and feeding and dressing themselves.In addition, the disabled, have been preparing for such potential problems as the effect'of altitude on people with head , injuries and skin breakdown with the use of pros theses. They also have designed a special carrying device they call a Dandy, in case of an emergency where Bomeone needs to be carried,I've had special leather 'boots' made and I’ve just finished a course in the Canadian Outward Bound Wilderness school,” said SchmlU, born without legs or a right hand, with only two fingers on the left.Gary Mulligan, whcee head was injured in a 1972 motorcycle aecident, is particularly concerned about the altitude problems. But Ik brings a sense of humor to his situation.in a coma for three months after his accident, Mulligan still has poor vision and poor short-term memory which, he says with a laugh, gives him a hard enough timeremembering where he left his passport, let alone climbing a rocky, trail in Nepal.I'm no hero” he says. “I’ll be the first one to ask for help if I need it ”The other disabled people are; Chuck Moult, also of Pickering, who suffered polio, and Mary Lister of Toronto, who has cerebral palsey. They are both in their early ■«0b.Aside from Smart, the leaders are Marc and Maureen Langlois of a branch of the Health and Learning group at Rose Bay. near Lunenburg, N.S. Other non-disabled persons include: Sue Bocbtin of Rose Bay; Bob Smith, Halifax; and Chris Newman, New York. From Ontario: Chuck’s wife Irene Moult, Pickering; Steven Falk, Aurora; Darren Verge, Oakville; and Stephen Couchman, Toronto, trip photographer who also will write about the adventure.Smart, co-ordinator of camping and reere*
Newspaper Details
Lethbridge Herald
Lethbridge, Alberta, CA
Fri, Nov 15, 1991
Page 23
Full Page
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