Ramesh Ferris
Hometown: Whitehorse, Yukon
Ramesh Ferris was born in the Southern State of Tamil Nadu in
India. He contracted polio at only six months old which resulted in
paralysis of his legs. With no means or access to rehabilitation
for him, Ramesh's mother placed him in a Canadian-founded
orphanage, a year later.
Soon after, he was adopted by a Canadian family who brought him
to Canada, making him the first international adoption in the Yukon
Territory. With the support of his new Canadian family and after
several operations at the Vancouver's Children's Hospital, Ramesh
learned to walk with crutches and braces for the first time at the
age of three and a half years old.
After graduating from college, Ramesh has been active in his
community, working with at-risk youth, social assistance recipients
and people of varying abilities. He assisted in the creation of
accessible communities in the Yukon through sport and recreation
including wheelchair basketball, and hand-cycling programs in the
north.
With a personal connection to polio survivors, Ramesh's
determination to make a positive difference in the lives others
took the form of Cycle to Walk Canada, a program designed to raise
money towards polio quality of life and prevention programs. He
continues to make a difference in the lives of youth and is a
shining example of overcoming adversity and becoming a source of
positive change.
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