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Karen is a volunteer for the adaptive ski program STRIDE at Ski Sundown in New Hartford. She says, “doing something where I’m focused on helping someone else is very rewarding, and it makes me feel useful.  That moment when they get it – when they know they can do it – it is awesome”.

As a Canadian citizen, Karen was an avid skier, was a ski instructor and was always active in sports.  She moved to Connecticut when her husband took a job here, and she continued to teach skiing. As an M.D, she had always been on the “helping” side of things – until things changed drastically. In March 2016 she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, and she subsequently gave up being an instructor – and immediately felt a void.  “When I had to give up ski teaching, it was like another loss”. 

Karen believes that one of the keys to fighting Parkinson’s is staying active, and was thrilled when she realized that skiing would still be something she could enjoy.  So she took it to the next level as an adaptive instructor with STRIDE, and she encourages any PWP’s to give skiing a try: “if you have even the slightest inkling, I suggest you make the effort.  You’ll be surprised at what you can do”.

 Kudos to you, Karen, for helping those in need!

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