Portrait of an able sailor

April Hubbard

June 14, 2018

As a pioneer in the adaptable sailing movement I can say with confidence that all the volunteers that make the program function are true impact players. April Hubbard of Sail Able NS is a true impact player.

April’s journey began at the annual Sail Able BBQ in 2006 in an effort to meet other wheelchair users who were living active lives. “I have met many amazing individuals who are living their dreams while embracing their disability rather than overcome it.”

On her inaugural sail, the wind breathed life into her sails both literally and figuratively. A whole new world opened for April as it was the first time in years that she had a moment of power over a disease that attacked her body. “For years I was only seen as a disabled person. No one believed I could take care of myself let alone anything else. On my first day with Sail Able, they had no doubt about my abilities and trusted me to sail a Martin 16. Their faith in me gave me the confidence to start believing in myself.”

As a measure to give back to a program that has given her so much April has taken on the role of writing grant applications and running fundraising campaigns to allow for more people to experience the benefits of Sail Able NS. https://www.gofundme.com/ride-the-wave-of-freedom  Along with these duties April spends a lot of time behind her camera lens witnessing many golden memories of pure bliss on faces of young participants, tears of joy from parents or the sight of empty wheelchairs on the dock as the ultimate freedom are forever etched in her mind.

“Living with a disability can be very isolating but having the chance to get to know so many powerful people who are thriving with a disability has given me strength. Sail Able’s real gift to me was the courage to live my life.”

-Rob Dunbar

 

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