Wheelchair racer pushes across US for dive charity
(CNS): A young paralympian racer from the US is currently pushing his racing wheelchair across the United States of America on behalf of a dive charity for people with disabilities which uses Cayman as its exclusive destination. Ryan Chalmers began his journey on 6 April in Los Angeles and is due to arrive in Central Park, New York, on Saturday. Chalmers will have pushed some 3,200 miles over 71 days raising funds for an organization called Stay-Focused, a non-profit organization that offers SCUBA diving experiences only in the Cayman Islands to teens and young adults with disabilities.
Chalmers’ incredible feat, which is the equivalent of more than one marathon every day for more than two months, has attracted considerable attention and the world’s media is expected in Central Park Saturday morning to meet him.
The charity for which Chalmers is going to Herculean lengths launched its first programme in Grand Cayman in March 2004 with two young girls who use wheelchairs. To date, Stay-Focused has run more than 25 programmes and over 100 physically- and intellectually-challenged teens and young adults have participated in the programme and at least 50 of them who first learned to dive in Cayman under this programme have returned to visit again, a spokesperson from the Department of Tourism stated.
The programme is made possible in the Cayman Islands as a result of the additional sponsorship and support provided to Stay-Focused by Red Sail Sports and the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort, among others.
For more on Chamlers’ charity wheelchair push and the final leg of his journey log on to the Facebook page.
Category: World News
CNS, Please let us know when Mr. Chamlers will be returning to Cayman so we can go to the airport and give him a warm Cayman welcome.
Thanks Mr. Chamlers.
My wife and I are privileged to support Stay Focus as many Caymanians and residents also do. Ryan’s accomplishments are outstanding and remind us all as to what can be achieved by some mortals in God’s big world. Undoubtably he will go on to accomplish even bigger achievements during his life and I look forward to reading about them.
THAT is a great idea. Yes, CNS…. would you please publish when this amazing person is coming to Cayman? Also, we ask that you share it will the other media groups too. A heartwarming welcome is required and CNS can help to facilitate this. Thanks.
I find it very ironic that there is a small group of people who are fighting to sensitize the residents of Cayman to the world of handicap people, because Cayman is so backwards when it comes to this subject, yet this guy is crossing a country that is 120 times longer than Cayman in a wheel chair and it will benefit us. I hope he doesn’t need a handicap spot when he visits.
Perhaps 'disability' is a more preferred word than 'handicap'.
What a wonderful inspiration Ryan Chalmers is to people from all walks of life. Congratulations and thank you for your amazing feat. Thanks to you from the people of the Cayman Islands and we look forward to making all recipients of the “Stay Focused” programme welcome to our shores.
Stay Focused is an amazing program and Ryan is a great ambassador for that program. But more than that he is an inspiration all. I know he is to me.
Push on Ryan! Both to NY and through life.
I wish we would welcome those handicap people who live here. Don't get me wrong, I am a huge supporter of Ryan, and think what he is doing is definately something to both be admired and emulated. I find it shameful that the people of Cayman so readly overlook how badly we treat our own handicapped residents and citizens.
WOW!
Would be cool if someone representing Cayman diving, Red Sail or Marriott are there to welcome him too!
what would even betta would be for one of Cayman's own handicapped divers or residents to welcome him. I think the bigger focus here needs to be the handicapped, not the commercial interests.