Andrea Erion was 28 when she was diagnosed with stage IVbreast cancer.
“I don’t think there’s any real way to process that kind of diagnosis.
It just came out of left field,” she says.
Courtesy of Andrea Erion
“There was a lot of emotion and wondering what was going to happen next.
My imagination ran wild, and I was scared.”
On the five-year mark of living with her cancer, something clicked in Erion.
Courtesy of Andrea Erion
“So much of what I had been doing was about trying to stay alive,” she says.
“I wanted to reclaim my life.”
“They’re angry with their bodies.
Erion and 13 other participants forged bonds as they navigated the rapids of the Columbia River in Montana.
The friendships deepened over group dinners and campfires each night.
“Sometimes we swapped chemo stories; other times we talked about dating,” Erion says.
In quieter moments, they shared their fears about dying.
Still, “camp wasn’t dark,” says Erion.
“It was an open place to talk about what scared us most in an organic way.”
This fall, Erion will run a Ragnar Relay race with a team of First Descents alums in Texas.
“My kayaking trip created a sense of adventure in meand the courage to do anything.”
Here are four more amazing organizations using physical activity in creative, effective ways.
They need your help to reach even more people.
That moving forward one step at a time can build momentum in daily life.
Participants can become eligible for educational support, job-training services, employment referrals, and more.
How to helpRun with a team in your area or raise money through fund-raising.backonmyfeet.org
2.
Challenged Athletes Foundation
This group eliminates financial obstacles for aspiring athletes who have physical disabilities.
How to helpFund-raise through a variety of year-round events, like triathlons, cycling competitions, and more.challengedathletes.org
3.
Participants gain confidence as they master different skills and become more comfortable in a new environment.
Its now an award-winning NGO with projects in Afghanistan, Cambodia, and South Africa.
The goal is to nurture every childs leadership skills.
How to helpDonate to the cause, host a fund-raiser, or volunteer in the office at their Berlin headquarters.skateistan.org
