People who know Alyssa White say she exudes confidence and positivity. They say she is full of charisma and has a smile that can captivate a room.
These are just few of the many reasons the 14 year old was chosen to be Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation’s youth ambassador this year.
It’s a designation that allows her to be parade marshal at the upcoming RBC Cruisin’ Down the Crescent fundraiser and cut the ribbon at the start line.
But it’s also a title that recognizes Alyssa’s determination and her ability to overcome obstacles.
“CRF has been there for us when we needed them and they… provided [Alyssa] with great equipment that helps her independence,” says DeClercq.
She was born with spina bifida – a birth defect that occurs when the spine and spinal cord do not develop in the womb as they should. The disability can impact a person’s mobility in different ways depending on the type of defect, size and location.
Alyssa was born with lipomyelomeningocele, a type of spina bifida characterized by a fatty mass attached to the spinal cord appearing like a large lump.
Because the mass is stuck to the spinal cord, it can cause back and leg pain, weakness in the legs and bladder issues.
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Alyssa has had at least a dozen surgeries on her legs and feet to help her mobility. Today, she needs no specialized equipment to live her life as a healthy teen aside from a walker and leg braces.
She’s remained positive through every surgery and steadfastly stands by her life motto: “If you have a dream, don’t let anyone stop you.”
“I truly believe she lives up to the slogan of ‘see the ability in disability,’” Alyssa’s mom, Charlene DeClercq, says.
“She is really self-sufficient in many ways. She wants to be like every other child and she manoeuvers pretty well.”
A lot of this self-determination is a product of the support Alyssa received from the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation (CRF), DeClrercq says.
“It’s a very powerful thing to see a child you don’t think will be able to ride a bike and then their legs get going,” says Schollenberg.
The group raises money to improve the lives of children who use the services of the Rehabilitation Centre for Children (RCC) and the Specialized Services for Children and Youth Centre (SSCY). The foundation supplies the centres with a wide range of equipment, from lightweight wheelchairs and specialized strollers to customized bikes and communication devices.
CRF also funds and maintains the Life Program which offers art and sport programs for children with disabilities, along with camps, teen nights and cooking clubs.
Alyssa is heavily involved in sports – her favourite is sledge hockey.
She’s proven to be so good at the sport that a family trip to Disneyworld will have to be delayed because she’s attending several national women’s sledge hockey training camps this year.
One of this unstoppable teen’s goals is “to have women’s sledge hockey recognized as a Paralympic Sport.” (Currently, only the men’s competition is recognized).
That development in character and the building of a person’s tenacity is just one reason Christine Schollenberg, executive director of CRF, loves her job.
She describes the joy of “bike presentations”—special ceremonies when kids receive a bicycle modified for their abilities. They get to try the bike out for the first time and meet their funder in person.
“There’s not a dry eye in the place,” says Schollenberg. “It’s a very powerful thing to see a child you don’t think will be able to ride a bike and then their legs get going.”
Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation is fully funded through grants, private donations and special events. “We are fortunate, because Winnipeg is a great city to live in and people are really generous in supporting our endeavors,” Schollenberg adds.
But she encourages more people to become part of the CRF family. “It’s a really nice feeling to know that you can help a child with a disability.”
Alyssa is just one example of a person who was helped by the foundation. The athlete and animal lover has big plans for her future. “I really want to become a professional sledge hockey player and a veterinarian.”
But first, the 2019 ambassador has her eyes set on the CRF Gala in October. She’s been tasked with choosing the theme and colour for the event.
“My colour is…millennial pink…with a Hawaiian theme,” she says.
To help more kids like Alyssa, donate to CRF via their website or by calling 204-258-6707. Volunteers are always welcome.