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Champion mountain biker Tara Llanes discussed the Sept. 1, 2007,accident that left her a paraplegic
But says nothing opposed to mountain biking!
Mike http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/mar/...nts-lesson-on/ Mountain bike champion offers students lesson on courage, compassion By Robyn Flans Ventura County Star Posted March 12, 2012 at 4:40 p.m. Champion mountain biker Tara Llanes discussed the Sept. 1, 2007, accident that left her a paraplegic * and her message of never give up * Monday morning at Sequoia Middle School in Newbury Park. Llanes visited as part of Abilities Awareness Week at the school. Parent organizers Linda Smith and Mary Abraham scheduled other activities, while parent volunteer Albert Cornel brought a three- legged dog and musicians with disabilities played during the lunch hours. "We want everyone to realize we all want to be part of the community," Smith said. "We all want to have a purpose and feel needed. Our goal is for the kids to be more compassionate of others." Llanes said the most important message she wanted to convey was people shouldn't feel uncomfortable when they see someone in a wheelchair. "I'm the same person I was before," Llanes said. "I'm just a little shorter." She showed videos of her challenge and told the students the accident changed her life. She went from having sponsors flying her all over the world to compete to being in a hospital and hearing a doctor say she wouldn't walk again. "I decided I would prove him wrong," she said. After the assembly, Ciara Henderson, 13, said, "I loved how she kept herself motivated and after all the injury, she still said, 'I'm going to walk again.' " "Some people would give up and lay in bed all day. In the video she showed she had the determination to move forward and overcome her obstacles," said Sanjana Kurapati, 13. "It was very inspiring, because if it were me, I probably would not have been so motivated to walk again," said Malia Rogers, 13. Matthew Kohlhepp, 13, was on crutches and has been on and off because of an accident that has required surgeries. "I can relate to her. It's amazing how much drive and motivation she has," he said. Five years have passed since Llanes, now 35, broke her back and neck. Two years ago she moved to Canada, where same-sex marriage is legal, to marry her partner. She said in the beginning, her mother and friends kept her going. "There were moments I didn't want to go on," she said. "I had a friend from the U.K. fly to Colorado to be there for me. I remember one of my friends, Elka, who I had raced with, who came to the first hospital. I said to her, 'I can't do this.' She hugged me so tight and said, 'You can do this.' As soon as that doctor said, 'You're not going to walk,' some of my fight came out. I was on fire. I said, 'You are not going to tell me what I can or cannot do.' " She told her physical therapist to push her hard, and within two months she was moving her left leg. She's working on the right one. "I so badly want for the kids to understand today I'm just like them," she said. "There's nothing wrong with me. I just can't move my legs." © 2012 Ventura County Star. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Read mo http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/mar/...#ixzz1p3Qst9jm - vcstar.com |
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