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What’s holding you back from
achieving your life’s goals? With the loss of her eyesight at 41, Annie Young will inspire you with her story of how outdoor adventure helped break through her personal barriers The confidence to overcome life’s challenges sometimes comes at the most unexpected times and places. For Annie Young, who was still having a tough time accepting the loss of her eyesight at age 41, an outdoor adventure was the last place she thought she’d find the skills and determination she needed to move on with her life. But it was in the middle of a lake while trying to upright her kayak when Annie discovered the inner strength that began to propel her life forward. This remarkable woman now participates in triathlons, and even taught others to use power tools while helping to re-build homes in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina! Young will share her inspiring story during her presentation at the upcoming Sports & Recreation Expo for Women (www.101expos.com), to be held March 24-25, 2007 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Also joining in her presentation will be Arctic explorer Ann Bancroft, who will be participating via telephone from her latest expedition across the globe. Young’s involvement with outdoor adventure didn’t begin until she was going through rehabilitation following the loss of her eyesight. “I had come to a plateau in my training. That’s when a company called Wilderness Inquiry offered to take several students into the wilderness,” she recalls. “I was of the mindset that this trip wouldn’t teach me to read Braille or type, so it wouldn’t be useful. But the teachers encouraged me to go and get some fresh air.” What happened during that trip was a pivotal point in her life. “The trail guides and staff have spent years developing programs that integrate people of all different skills and abilities. It was an amazing experience.” She learned to recognize that everyone has special strengths but we often don’t recognize them at first. “If we take walk at night, now I am the person who has the advantage!” Young can still remember the exact moment when she knew that she would be able to handle whatever cards life would deal her. “It was the most amazing thing! I was on the lake in the kayak, at first very afraid, then suddenly it felt like that old spirit inside of me had returned.” Young was the first in her group to jump into the water to practice righting a tipped kayak. She returned from the trip re-energized, graduated from school, got a job, and rejoined the world as a more confident woman. On a subsequent trip with Wilderness Inquiry, Young tried snow shoeing and cross country skiing for the first time and met other inspirational women. With her increasing confidence from each outdoor adventure and the encouragement from a fellow trip member and tri-athlete, Young was inspired to train for a triathlon – even though she did not know how to swim. She has since completed three triathlons. One of Young’s more remarkable feats was learning to use woodworking power tools during a recent volunteer mission to rebuild homes. “I was able to travel to Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina, where I taught other (sighted) volunteers how to use a table saw and drill. It is very rare for a disabled person to be able to go out and volunteer in their community, let alone teach others how to get the job done.” During Annie Young’s presentation at the Sports and Recreation Expo for Women, Ann Bancroft is expected to call in live from the Arctic ice. The two women met at Wilderness Inquiry where Bancroft has been a member of their trail staff for 19 years when she is not leading one of her expeditions. The women share a passion for the wilderness adventure and have enjoyed personal breakthroughs during their many outdoor journeys. Says Annie Young, “Don’t wait. Even if you’re not particularly athletic, you’ll learn valuable life skills from outdoor adventure and you’ll have so much fun that you’ll forget about your personal barriers.” The Sports & Recreation Expo for Women will feature hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the latest in sports, fitness and recreational gear and equipment, clothing and related accessories, plus nonstop seminars to help attendees stay at the top of their game. With industry experts and women sports participants such as PGA Master Professional Jock Olson, Teaching Professional Andrea Kellar, Minnesota Lynx Assistant Coach and four-time Olympic Gold Medalist Teresa Edwards, the show is intended to inspire women to achieve their goals, and find even more fun and challenges in their recreational activities. This year’s sponsors include the 2008 U.S. Women’s Open, KSTC Channel 5, KSTP Channel 45. the Minnesota Lynx and Stressfree Living. Media Note: For additional information, contact Media Relations, Inc. at 612-798-7220. About Wilderness Inquiry
Wilderness Inquiry is a non-profit outdoor adventure organization based in Minneapolis that serves people from all ages, backgrounds and abilities. With the support of its dedicated trail staff and unique leadership style, they help small groups of people (from novice to expert, and from able-bodied to people with disabilities) paddle, hike, ride and mush to amazing destinations in North America and throughout the world. Its mission is to encourage people to open their minds and hearts to new possibilities by demonstrating individually and collectively that we are all capable of doing more than we thought possible. |
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