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As summer comes to a close, one of the best ways to cool off was at Roseville’s Wake Island, but just beyond the inflatable floats and right past the wake boarders, there are those who have an unimpaired chance at creating a splash of their own. “Everyone is out here to have a good time,” said Michael Hunter with Achieve Tahoe. Achieve Tahoe is a nonprofit organization that started in the 1960s. Its goal is to make sure people with disabilities have the opportunity to enjoy outdoor sports. The organization began as a way to get wounded veterans on the ski slopes, but has expanded to providing programs year-round.“It just feels good to get out and be part of your environment,” Hunter added. “It feels good to feel the wind in your hair.”That includes 34-year-old Brigit Maloney, who has this water skiing date circled on her calendar. “I like water skiing,” she said. “I like doing all my sports.” Fifty miles away in Grass Valley, it would be hard to find a more blessed household than the Maloney family. “The good lord gives you what he wants you to have,” said mother, Cati Maloney. But like most families, they aren’t blessed with a ton of free time, trying to balance the schedule for their adult children. Cati is an occupational therapist who made a very big decision a little more than three decades ago, when she adopted two children with disabilities. The first was Brigit. Cati got her when she was just 1 1/2 years old. She knew her daughter would face obstacles. Brigit is legally blind in one eye and partially in the other. It’s a disability she wasn’t born with. It’s one that happened at the hands of someone she loved. “Brigit was born normal, and she was abused from zero to three months,” Cati said. “She has what they call shaken baby syndrome. When she arrived at the hospital, her retinas were detached, and she had a brain injury.” Life hasn’t been as easy for Brigit as others, but she isn’t about to let you know that. “They probably think that I can’t do stuff as well as they can, but I can still manage on the activity,” Brigit added. She’s done better than manage. Her room is filled with medals hanging on the walls from her time competing in the Special Olympics. In the winter, Brigit skis, and in summer, she skis even more. Brigit is just one of 120 disabled athletes who have a chance to water ski over the summer, through Achieve Tahoe. “When I got Brigit, people said she won’t amount to much,” Cati said. “It’s a simple goal,” Hunter added. “Achievement is universal. We all want to do something more and feel good about ourselves.”See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
As summer comes to a close, one of the best ways to cool off was at Roseville’s Wake Island, but just beyond the inflatable floats and right past the wake boarders, there are those who have an unimpaired chance at creating a splash of their own.
“Everyone is out here to have a good time,” said Michael Hunter with Achieve Tahoe.
Achieve Tahoe is a nonprofit organization that started in the 1960s. Its goal is to make sure people with disabilities have the opportunity to enjoy outdoor sports. The organization began as a way to get wounded veterans on the ski slopes, but has expanded to providing programs year-round.
“It just feels good to get out and be part of your environment,” Hunter added. “It feels good to feel the wind in your hair.”
That includes 34-year-old Brigit Maloney, who has this water skiing date circled on her calendar.
“I like water skiing,” she said. “I like doing all my sports.”
Fifty miles away in Grass Valley, it would be hard to find a more blessed household than the Maloney family.
“The good lord gives you what he wants you to have,” said mother, Cati Maloney.
But like most families, they aren’t blessed with a ton of free time, trying to balance the schedule for their adult children.
Cati is an occupational therapist who made a very big decision a little more than three decades ago, when she adopted two children with disabilities.
The first was Brigit. Cati got her when she was just 1 1/2 years old. She knew her daughter would face obstacles.
Brigit is legally blind in one eye and partially in the other. It’s a disability she wasn’t born with. It’s one that happened at the hands of someone she loved.
“Brigit was born normal, and she was abused from zero to three months,” Cati said. “She has what they call shaken baby syndrome. When she arrived at the hospital, her retinas were detached, and she had a brain injury.”
Life hasn’t been as easy for Brigit as others, but she isn’t about to let you know that.
“They probably think that I can’t do stuff as well as they can, but I can still manage on the activity,” Brigit added.
She’s done better than manage. Her room is filled with medals hanging on the walls from her time competing in the Special Olympics.
In the winter, Brigit skis, and in summer, she skis even more. Brigit is just one of 120 disabled athletes who have a chance to water ski over the summer, through Achieve Tahoe.
“When I got Brigit, people said she won’t amount to much,” Cati said.
“It’s a simple goal,” Hunter added. “Achievement is universal. We all want to do something more and feel good about ourselves.”
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
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