We started a new tradition this year. We call it the ‘Inspiration Award’, and unveiled it and the recipient during last week’s Slipstream in the City event. The Inspiration Award is to honour members of the Connected in Motion community who have inspired us, and others living with type 1 diabetes, to live life without limits.
We are pleased to relay that the Inspiration Award for 2012 goes to… Luke Cameron!
Luke first came out to a Connected in Motion event January of this year and it has been amazing to see how far he has grown, reaching new goals he would have never thought possible before.
For whatever reason, Luke did not speak when he received his award during the Slipstream in the City celebrations. He did, however, write something out on Facebook a few days later. We asked if we could share it here, and he obliged (with the condition we fix any spelling/grammar mishaps.) So, here you go… Luke’s acceptance speech:
Connected in Motion 2012 Inspiration Award. Still trying to wrap my head around that.
I guess this post is going to be my acceptance speech. Not sure why I didn’t say anything when I was up on stage. I was positive that Chloe and Jen would have forced me to say something. Well at least now I can’t blame the alcohol for what I am about to say.
10 months ago my life was a far cry from what it is now. Looking back at my pre-Winter Slipstream 2012 life, it is easy to see that I wanted my life to change; I needed my life to change. I think I knew that back then, but I had no idea how to make it happen. Winter Slipstream gave me the push I needed to make the change.
As Chloe mentioned, I have done all kinds of things, things that I would have never even thought about doing before CIM. The reason I have done these things is because I saw other people, other diabetics, who are now my friends, doing them. The key is that these are diabetics running races, climbing high ropes courses, going on 3-day-long canoe trips. I can no longer use diabetes as an excuse to stop me from doing something. It was so easy before to say “I can’t do that, I am diabetic,” which I have now realized was a cover up for the truth which was, “I don’t want to do that, I am scared of failing”.
I am still scared of failing; I will always be scared of failing. But wouldn’t it be better to say “I tried to do that, but I couldn’t go through with it”, then just standing at the side and not even trying at all? It is, in my opinion.
I went bungee jumping when I was out in B.C. I was standing on the bridge tying to get my nerve up to jump. After 10 seconds I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to jump on my own. I needed help to get over my fear. This time the help came in the form of a little push form a guy named Steve. Seriously, Steve pushed me off the bridge. The video is in my FB pictures.
Everyone who I have met in CIM has inspired me. Everyone who I haven’t met has inspired me. Kinda weird, I know, but stick with me: All the people I know in CIM have turned out to be the kind, caring people they are because of other people they know. I know that everyone in CIM would help anyone else out if they possibly could. That’s what makes CIM so unique, each and every one of you.
I still think that I am just a guy who is crazy and stubborn. Crazy for signing up for all the things that I have done these past 10 months and too stubborn to back out of them.
I feel like I am the one who has needed the most inspiration this past year and not the one who has been most inspiring. However I am going to gracefully accept this award and be humbled and honoured.
P.S. I think I have figured out why Chloe and Jen never asked me to say anything Friday night. I can be long winded when I get on a rant =)
Congratulations, Luke!
Way to go, Luke!! 🙂