‘Trip of a Lifetime’
The Air Canada Foundation and Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital together provided 17-year-old Jacob Calvert and family the opportunity to see first-hand the inspirational 2016 Paralympic Games, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from Sept. 7-18.
Calvert, who plays sledge hockey for Team Ontario and aspires to be an Olympian, has femoral facial deficiency syndrome. He has received care at Holland Bloorview for 12 years, starting with prosthetic legs after his leg was amputated at age five. He continues to receive physiotherapy and rehabilitation care. He was thrilled when the opportunity arose for him to see the 2016 Paralympic Games. So far, he and his family have seen opening ceremonies, swimming and wheelchair basketball. On Monday, they took a tour of the Canadian House and Athletes Village.
Calvert began playing sledge hockey at age eight and is a defenseman on the Cruiser A team. In 2015, he also started playing for Sledge Team Ontario and will be playing with them again in 2016.
“The team at the Air Canada Foundation was incredibly impressed by Jacob’s story of courage and determination,” said Priscille LeBlanc, chair of the Air Canada Foundation. “It made Jacob a natural choice when Air Canada, a sponsor of the Canadian team at the Rio Paralympic Games, sought a young ambassador to attend the Games on behalf of the Air Canada Foundation.”
