Sometimes life throws things our way that we could never have planned for and puts us on a new path where we are forced to adapt and dig deep for courage.

In the late B次元官网网址�80s, Pippa (Philippa) Blake had plans to trek to Mount Everest Base Camp with her sons when her plans were thwarted by a Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis. Despite becoming quickly wheelchair-bound, Blake ended up going on the journey anyway, nearly two decades later.

In 2007, a team of friends, family, sherpas and porters, along with a device called the trailrider, worked with Blake to successfully get up the 65 km climb. The highs and lows of the difficult journey are documented in the short film Rise Above Barriers Everest Base Camp. At one tense point, the thin air started to drain the energy from Blake and the crew. However, the group persevered and accomplished the incredible feat.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 extraordinary what you can do if you really believe you can do it,B次元官网网址� Blake said in the video. B次元官网网址淚 hope that this makes people realize that you can do more than dream but you have to believe in yourself and dig deep.B次元官网网址�

Almost twenty years later now, Blake, 73, has found a new love for an activity that fits her active and adventurous spirit; horse riding at Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association (VTRA).

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a bit frightening but you feel great sitting up on the horse. You feel quite in charge, quite grand B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 a great feeling,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淗ere you have endless, amazing people around who are so supportive, and the horses are without a doubt so kind and so gentle. I get quite swept away by it and the horses all have their own personalities.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 was nervous but I fell in love with Danny, the beautiful horse I rode and we sort of bonded,B次元官网网址� she said.

Blake has always led a very active life. Before her MS diagnosis, it was full of skiing, tennis, hiking and more. After her diagnosis, she said she felt sad and got B次元官网网址渇ed up with just sitting aroundB次元官网网址� so she began to seek active and adventurous activities that could accommodate disabilities.

When Blake, British-born, first moved to the Island in 2001, she discovered the VTRA in Saanichton. At the time, riding wasnB次元官网网址檛 high on her list of things to try. Before that, she had worked on an Albertan cattle ranch when she first moved to Canada in 1970 and hadnB次元官网网址檛 ridden again until she discovered VTRA. Her love for horses was what eventually led her to decide to enrol.

B次元官网网址淧lus, my name B次元官网网址� Philippa B次元官网网址� actually means lover of horses. So I thought, B次元官网网址業B次元官网网址檓 supposed to go riding!B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� she said.

VTRA is a non-profit charitable organization which provides therapeutic riding experiences to children and adults with diverse abilities. The organization is made up of a volunteer board, a small team of six staff, professional instructors and more than 275 volunteers. Its central focus is recognizing the therapeutic benefits that horses bring and the health benefits.

B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 say enough about this whole organization. ItB次元官网网址檚 just extraordinary. All the people are involved are just so committed. The volunteers give up huge chunks of their day for us, weB次元官网网址檙e very lucky,B次元官网网址� Blake said.

B次元官网网址淚 always go home with a huge grin on my face.B次元官网网址�

Some of the other benefits that Blake sees from riding are that she gets to use muscles she normally wouldnB次元官网网址檛 when sitting in a wheelchair, and she also gets to meet other people with disabilities, like Sarah Hansen who uses a walker.

B次元官网网址淪he is so positive,B次元官网网址� Hansen said, referring to Blake. B次元官网网址淎nd thatB次元官网网址檚 whatB次元官网网址檚 so good is you come here and we see other people that have similar challenges and theyB次元官网网址檙e so positive.B次元官网网址�

Pat Coverdale, who has been volunteering with the company for close to 25 years, noted the skills that Blake, Hansen and the other women in the group have developed in riding over the years.

B次元官网网址淵ou should see these four ladies. ItB次元官网网址檚 amazing how well they ride,B次元官网网址� she said.

Blake does a horse show every June, which involves a dressage pattern B次元官网网址� a predetermined sequence of movements, displaying the horseB次元官网网址檚 obedience, athleticism, and agility.

B次元官网网址淚 get frightfully into it. They give you the pattern and I go and practice in my wheelchair in the parking lot behind the school where I live,B次元官网网址� Blake said.

Dealing with a disability is incredibly different for everybody, as Blake states, with different levels of mobility and challenges, but she knows what has worked best for her.

B次元官网网址淚 know I feel better if I attempt something because I do disabled sailing as well and sit skiing. YouB次元官网网址檙e always nervous when you start and then after youB次元官网网址檙e so glad you did it.B次元官网网址�