2008 Woodie Awards
An 'Unlimited' Feeling
QU students ski-lift disabled children's spirits
Josh Anusewicz
Issue date: 2/20/08 Section: Features
As the young boy glided to a stop at the bottom of the hill, the small group of people waiting for him began to applaud. He high-fived his instructor and gave his mother a big hug, smiling brightly enough to melt the snow underneath him.
Here, there is no mention made of his disabilities or medical condition. There is no special treatment. He is treated the way he wants to be treated; like a regular kid.
"These kids are getting that chance to be normal," senior physical therapy major Ericka Fryburg said. "For the few hours they're here, they get to do the things normal kids do."
Every Friday afternoon in January and February, Fryburg and about a dozen other Quinnipiac students travel to Mount Southington in Plantsville, Conn. to take part in a program called Skiers Unlimited, a non-profit organization that helps local children with disabilities learn how to ski.
Talking to anyone involved with the program, the experience is one that is worth sacrificing the time for.
"This is as much therapy for us as it is for them," Frybaurg said. "Seeing the kids smiling, it's the best feeling. That's what I do it for."
Skiers Unlimited was founded over 30 years ago by the Connecticut Children's Medical Center, which still sponsors the program today.
Coordinator Steve Balcanoff has been there since the very beginning and is still highly involved, strapping on the skis with everyone else.
"You just love coming out here and seeing the happiness this brings to the kids," Balcanoff said. "That's what keeps me coming back."
Quinnipiac has been involved with the program for almost 20 years and has provided the help necessary to keep the program going.
"Without the students from QU, this program probably would've died out or just wouldn't be very good," Balcanoff said.
Quinnipiac's involvement with Skiers Unlimited began when Richard Albro, a professor of Health Sciences at Quinnipiac, took a semester off early in his teaching career.
Here, there is no mention made of his disabilities or medical condition. There is no special treatment. He is treated the way he wants to be treated; like a regular kid.
"These kids are getting that chance to be normal," senior physical therapy major Ericka Fryburg said. "For the few hours they're here, they get to do the things normal kids do."
Every Friday afternoon in January and February, Fryburg and about a dozen other Quinnipiac students travel to Mount Southington in Plantsville, Conn. to take part in a program called Skiers Unlimited, a non-profit organization that helps local children with disabilities learn how to ski.
Talking to anyone involved with the program, the experience is one that is worth sacrificing the time for.
"This is as much therapy for us as it is for them," Frybaurg said. "Seeing the kids smiling, it's the best feeling. That's what I do it for."
Skiers Unlimited was founded over 30 years ago by the Connecticut Children's Medical Center, which still sponsors the program today.
Coordinator Steve Balcanoff has been there since the very beginning and is still highly involved, strapping on the skis with everyone else.
"You just love coming out here and seeing the happiness this brings to the kids," Balcanoff said. "That's what keeps me coming back."
Quinnipiac has been involved with the program for almost 20 years and has provided the help necessary to keep the program going.
"Without the students from QU, this program probably would've died out or just wouldn't be very good," Balcanoff said.
Quinnipiac's involvement with Skiers Unlimited began when Richard Albro, a professor of Health Sciences at Quinnipiac, took a semester off early in his teaching career.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Joe A.
posted 2/24/08 @ 8:16 PM EST
Always hearing about the bad things going on in the world, it is refreshing to read a story about caring individuals who volunteer the time out of their busy day to help children with disabilities. (Continued…)
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