One Revolution Reaching New Heights to Pay It Forward
By Erin Turnley | January 10, 2012 at 9:43 am
Chris Waddell knows all too well the labels we put on ourselves or even other people; whether it be based on someone’s appearance, ability or virtually anything else. Waddell knows because he’s been in a wheelchair since a horrific skiing accident in college not only ended his promising athletic career, but it paralyzed him from the waist down.
“It’s not what happens to you; it’s what you do with what happens to you.” This quote, taken from his website, speaks to the resolve of Waddell’s spirit. What started out as his mantra to recover from his skiing accident has now become the mission statement for the One Revolution, founded to demonstrate the human resilience and determination that lies within each one of us.
Triumph Over Trials
Within a year of his accident, he was back on the mountain learning how to downhill on a monoski. Just two years later, he would join the U.S. Disabled Ski Team. It was there that he launched a successful career in sports, winning a total of 13 medals and becoming the first paraplegic athlete to win World Championship titles in both summer and winter games. Spending an impressive 11 years on the U.S. team, he was named to both the Paralympic and the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Halls of Fame. Probably most impressive of this long list of accomplishments is that Waddell is the first paraplegic to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest peak at more than 19,000 feet, using a specially designed handcycle. The arduous task of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro was filmed and made into a documentary entitled One Revolution.
Yet with all of these accomplishments, Waddell knew he wasn’t finished. The One Revolution foundation is now a multifaceted organization that gives back to the rest of the world. Through his past experiences, he is able to help change lives in two very distinct ways:
Nametags Educational Program
Waddell spends a lot of time on the road traveling to schools around the country and speaking to children about his story. He challenges youth to think about the labels we place on ourselves and others, using his testimony as a living example about someone who can “rise above” their past or their circumstances.
“If our mission is to change the way the world sees disabilities, it’s harder to affect change with adults then kids,” Waddell told Halogen. “Kids’ minds are open. They ask questions and want answers, they won’t be reserved about what they ask. You can spend all of your time trying to fit in, but not knowing who you are and what you are all about, it’s so limiting. So hopefully I am able to change that for some of these kids, change the way they see themselves and how they think about themselves.”
In the last three years Chris has shared his message with more than 100,000 school-aged kids through the Nametags Program and is also sharing the same message in corporate settings.
Mobility Revolution
Using the design for the handcycle Waddell used to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro, the One Revolution foundation is partnering with other organizations such as Mobility Care in Tanzania to design and manufacture all-terrain handcycles that will then be distributed to disabled people in Africa. Because so many villages do not have the modern conveniences of paved roads, conventional wheelchairs are not an option. The modified handcycle will allow increased accessibility for those dwelling in even the most remote areas.
In a world where we are inundated with stories of tragedy around the globe, it is easy for the human spirit to give up on making a difference. “I’m not sad for what happened to me. I don’t know what I would have done if it hadn’t been for this accident, but I highly doubt I would have become the best in the world at anything.”
More on Nonprofits from HalogenTV.com:
About the Author:
