 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
DAWN
Ontario
presents
our vote for
Phenomenal Women
Ms. Ashley Cowan
|
Cheers for Ashley Cowan, a 15 year old young woman with a disability from Toronto who swam 20 km across Lake Erie in 14 hours! Even bigger cheers for Ashley because she has lived as a quadruple amputee since very young. What an inspirational story! I was particularly moved to read how her crew jumped in the water to swim with Ashley at points when she was almost ready to give up. Ashley completed her goal, despite turbulent water and at times, metre-high waves. Ashley Cowan becomes the first young woman and the first person with a disability to swim Lake Erie. CFTO quotes Ashley, ``You set your mind on something and just keep thinking how much you want it and you will achieve it,'' What's more, Ashley Cowan used this opportunity to raise money for Variety Village, which supports children with special needs. It just doesn't get any better than this... actually it can! If you are considering donating to Variety Village, here is their contact information: Variety
- The Children's Charity Telephone:
416-367-2828 Pinpoint
URL to Variety Villages' donation page: (PDF document
requires best regards
Ashley Cowan was born January 27th, 1986 in Toronto. She recently moved to Bradford, Ontario. She is a grade 10 student at Birchmount Park Collegiate in Toronto. When Ashley was 15 months old she contracted Meningitis. To save her life, doctors had to amputate all four of her limbs just below the joint. At the age of 2, Ashley was fitted with prosthetic limbs. Although Ashley has always loved to swim, she started her athletic career as a figure skater. After winning a number of medals she decided to try something new. When she heard about Vicki Keith’s marathon swims across Lake Ontario, she decided that she wanted to swim her own marathon. She attended Variety Village– a fitness centre for children and adults with disabilities in Toronto. She introduced herself to Vicki and told her of her dream. At the age of 8 1/2 Ashley began swimming under Vicki’s tutelage. That year Ashley qualified for Canadian National competitions. Since then Ashley has won numerous medals. In August 2001 she qualified for Canada Games where she won two silver medals in the 50 meter backstroke and 100 meter breast stroke and set a new Canadian record in the 100 breast stroke. On September 7th 2001 Ashley walked into Lake Erie to accomplish one of her dreams. Fourteen hours and twenty minutes later she climbed out of the lake having become the youngest person and first athlete with a disability to swim the 20 km/12 mile swim. All of Canada has embraced “this little girl with a huge heart.” People from around the world are contacting and congratulating her. Ashley’s response to all of them is “Anything is possible if you believe in yourself. Able bodied or disabled, there are no limitations if you are willing to put your heart into it.” Ashley’s passion is helping other young people. She is an ambassador at Variety Village. She speaks to people about the abilities of people with disabilities. When she is not in school she spends her time at Variety Village where she trains with the Variety Village Flames swim team or spends time with her friends. In the future Ashley hopes to have the opportunity to follow through on her many dreams. She wants to become a singer, compete for Canada at the Paralympics, swim across the English Channel, have a family and maybe even become a lawyer. Ashley continues to dream and she has proven that when she sets her mind to something anything is possible.
Return to DAWN Ontario website
|
|
