As a child I was always a "Giver". My mom likes to remind me of the day when I put all of my birthday money in a donation basket for needy children in Africa because "They need it more than I do." Now, 20 years later, that giving spirit hasn't changed.
I grew up in Edmonton, Alberta with my parents and two older brothers. Having me as part of the family wasn't always easy for them - I had severe asthma and extreme allergies which made me extremely sick. My childhood doctors told my parents that I would probably never be athletic and because of all the medicine I was taking my growth would be stunted. It was a distinct possibility that I may not survive to reach adulthood.
I overcame what could have been an early end to my life with the unending support of my family.
Now, as an adult, my sickliness has transformed to athleticism and I am using that for good – riding to raise autism awareness, which I chose to do after attending university on a $150,000 scholarship.
I've been cycling to raise autism awareness since 2009; not because someone close to me has autism, but because it is one of the most important social issues my generation will face. Autism is growing like cancer was when my parents were my age and we don't know what causes it, prevents it, treats it, or why it is growing – it's the elephant in the closet no one really wants to talk about. If nothing changes autism will be the legacy my generation leaves for our children and grandchildren, and I don't want that to happen.
Autism affects people all over the world and doesn't discriminate by race or social status. Around the globe children are abused, mistreated, abandoned, and placed in prison because they have autism and those around them don't understand the condition – I've seen it firsthand and I want to change that.
I've given up over 2.5 years of my life to make the world a better place for people with autism and their families and it is my hope that we can unite, challenge and conquer autism together
