Today we feature someone, whose humour and strength, is sure to inspire you.
William Ryan Jopling is a shy, yet intrepid, adventurer who has been a volunteer for over 26 years. He is an avid hiker and dare devil who loves working out. His current goal is to be in the best shape of his life at 52. He has been a curler, dragon boater, tennis player, team manager, auction caller, Sherpa and so much more. William is also visually impaired and has been overcoming obstacles to live his best life since his diagnosis in primary school.
鈥淚 grew up on the east side of Winnipeg and attended a public school,鈥� shares William. 鈥淚 was the only blind kid in my neck of the woods. I had to carry the big CCTV (close-circuit television) the school provided from class to class. I was building muscle from a young age!鈥�
鈥淚 want to show other blind people that vision impairment is not an obstacle or a roadblock,鈥� William answers when asked why he volunteers. 鈥淚t is something that you can adapt and overcome. Volunteering also shows good credibility for job openings.鈥�
William bravely learned to trust himself walking on different sides of a cliff, not knowing if there was a drop, or how big the drop might be. He feels that not having depth perception allowed him to not feel fear.
鈥淚 always say, 鈥榃here there is a Will (William) there is a way! And since I am Will there is always a way,鈥� he laughs. 鈥淚 love to challenge myself more each year and to try new things.鈥�
William started volunteering at CNIB in 1998 after joining the blind curling team, and is still doing so today. He has also volunteered with CRIS Adaptive Adventures and with Dragon Boat teams. He has won several medals, 鈥渋ncluding gold, lots of silver and some bronze over the years.鈥�
鈥淚n 1999, a lady at CNIB contacted me and said she was forming a dragon boat team,鈥� explains William. 鈥淎 group of us met to discuss the team and ended up forming the 鈥楽onar Dragons鈥�. It was new to me and I never knew I could do it. Look at me now.鈥�
William takes pride in founding the Sonar Dragons and then also volunteering to manage the 鈥楾railing Paddle Monkeys鈥� Dragon Boat team in Winnipeg. 鈥淭hey weren鈥檛 doing well and after I went out to train them, they celebrated three first place and one third place finishes that season.鈥�
With CRIS Adaptive Adventures he volunteered for 14 years to help people with disabilities enjoy the outdoors.
鈥淚 was a volunteer 鈥淪herpa鈥� - the person who is on the front of the trail rider, pulling them through the trails,鈥� laughs William. 鈥淚 found my way because there was someone walking five feet in front of me and I followed their ankles. If they tripped I would not step there.鈥�
William has a few favourite memories that he gained while volunteering, including getting the nickname 鈥淒onny鈥� because a CRIS participant thought he looked like Donny Wahlberg, and playing catch with a seal on a tennis trip.
鈥淲e were on Main Island and I threw the ball into the water and the seal threw it back,鈥� says William. 鈥淧eople just saw me throwing the ball and did not know who was throwing it back. It was amazing.鈥�
William encourages everyone to volunteer with organizations and opportunities they would learn from. 鈥淰olunteering with blind people and people with would be a humbling experience,鈥� he states, knowing that volunteers are needed in every organization to make it work. 鈥淵ou would gain so much new information and a new and different outlook.鈥�
To find your volunteer opportunity, contact us at or the VolunteerConnector (). CNIB is also looking for a Vision Mate and for this rewarding position go to .
Dorothee Birker is the communications & development manager for KCR Community Resources.
