Stepping up to the challenge – Colin’s CN Tower Climb story

On April 25 & 26, WWF-Canada is celebrating our 25^th Annual CN Tower Climb. In the lead up to the climb we are sharing stories from our climbers – both rookies and veterans – on why they climb. Show your pride and join us this year. Registration is free at wwfcastg.wwf.ca/cntower.
Colin is 26 and lives in Hamilton, ON. He likes to walk, and play PlayStation. He doesn’t like elevators so he comes by his stair climbing naturally. He found out about WWF’s annual CN Tower climb this past October and with the support of his team, has set his sights on a new goal – the 1,776 stairs to the top of the tower.

Colin lives with a brain injury that include paralysis in his left hand and foot, reduced vision and common migraines and seizures – all the result of needing brain surgery to remove half of his brain after developing Rasmussen Syndrome at the age of one. These disabilities challenge Colin on a daily basis. And on a daily basis, with his team of parents, therapists and specialists, he overcomes these challenges.
Climbing the CN Tower was never something that Colin thought was within his reach: “I have been a disabled person my whole life. It’s all I have ever known. Sometimes being disabled comes with believing you can’t do whatever other “normal” people can do. I hope this climb will mean that I start to believe there is much, much more that I can do and have never tried.”
Doing the climb started as a joke between Colin and his worker at Brain Injury Services, Kristin Bouma. He commented on the number of stairs he was climbing and Kristin lightheartedly suggested that the CN Tower was the next step. The idea stuck and for the past five months, Colin has added additional goals and exercises to his regular stairs to prepare. He meets with his physical therapist 2 or 3 times per week and has a designated climb buddy for event day.
His goal: “I am going to do it. I don’t care how it gets done, it will just get done.”
His only worry: “the elevator ride down.” He doesn’t like elevators and would prefer to walk down.
Why he’s climbing with WWF: “I love animals and I want to climb to stop the extinction of some of the world’s most beautiful creatures.”
Colin wants to thank his parents, his friends and brother, his worker at Brain Injury Services – Kristin Bouma, the StayWell Program at St. Joseph’s Healthcare, and his support worker – Jessica, for their help in getting him to his goal.
If you’d like to support Colin, consider visiting his personal fundraising page here.
WWF-Canada would like to thank Colin for sharing his story and joining the climb!