The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Kelly Carrington Staff Writer Five years ago, a Flin Flon teenager set out to make a difference and bring awareness to an all-too familiar condition a member of his family is living with. Michael Kluba got the idea to develop a Walk for Cerebral Palsy and told cousin Ryan Nelson about his vision. "...usually, once we get something in our heads, we follow through with it," Kluba wrote in an e-mail. "And we did." Nelson, who has had cerebral palsy all his life, was the inspiration for the walk as Kluba says there is "a lot of equipment, research and funding that the Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba tries to provide for families. So, we wanted to help out." Though raising money is always a positive when it comes to a walk, Kluba says the main idea was to bring awareness of "the condition in our community." Nelson isn't the only Flin Flon resident living with cerebral palsy. And even though raising money isn't the most important part, over the past five years the Walk for Cerebral Palsy has brought in a combined total of $15,000 to $20,000. This year, the Walk, held last Saturday, Sept. 17, brought in roughly $3,000. "Over the years, we always have our regulars pledging and come out for the Walk, with a few new faces," wrote Kluba. "Seeing the same faces every year seems to add to the support, just knowing that they'll always be there." Though now living in Saskatoon and attending university, Kluba makes his way back to Flin Flon every September for the event. "I get excited for the Walk every year. It's awesome seeing our Walk lifers every year and I definitely like that Ryan participates in the Walk," he wrote. Kluba says there are often times walkers will ask if he wants help pushing Nelson's wheelchair up the hills. "...but my stubborn streak always come outs and the answer is always no," he wrote. With a Walk based around him, Kluba says, Nelson gets excited for the event. "I can't speak for him, but from what I gather from conversations we've had, it's a really special day for him because we have between 20 and 30 people that are all out to support a condition that Ryan lives with every day," wrote Kluba. "For him to be a part in the organizing and participating of the walk, it's...it's amazing."
