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10-TeCaadia ampti ,tye,, c Mllton il B mei e e - Sta the J.M cet me we H Bs bl grtai fro m Merth 2001 9 ID a - f e B -a r.nalinCh mion. Fridav May3.2 FANNIE SUNSHINE Champion ooking at Chris Delaney, one wouldn't suspect he's disabled. ut the blond-haired, blue-eyed, for- r football player for the Burlington mpeders bas been legally blind since 94. My eyes are out of focus all the time," Burlington resident told students at 0. Denyes School last Friday. "The ntre of my vision is where my impair- nt is." Life seemed to be treating Mr. Delaney ll prior Io the discovery of his degen- tie eye disease. The 24-year-old was training with the amilton Tiger Cats and working as a urlington firefighter when oui of the ue, his eyesight started to falter. "I couldn't see my family across the Ible. If my sister was ai the back of the om I wouldn't know. When they told e I was going blind, it was a scary ing. I never expected ibis to happen." To ibis day, doctors can't pinpoint xactly why he's losing his vision. And if it wasn't for the unconditional upport from friends and family, Mr. elaney wouldn't be where he is today. That support was most noticeable when he now 30-year-old decided to cycle cross Canada in 1997 to raise awareness or eye research. Sitting on the back of a two-seater bike, Mr. Delaney began his joumey - Chris Delaney's Vision Tour - July 1 in British Columbia and ended October 5 in Newfoundland. covering more than 8,000 km. 'A lot of peo- pie thougit I couldn't do it, he told the junior kindergarten to grade 5 students. "I made a com- mitment to do this and I wanted to sec the com- Chris Delaney mimnîroub mitment through. We raised over a quarter of a million dol- lars. That money went toward Variety Village, a children's charity in Scarborough that offers disabled children a place to swim, lift weights, run and play wheelchair basketball as well as socialize with other disabled children. "My goal is to build a second Variety Village out here, in Oakville, Mississauga or Brampton," continued Mr. Delaney, who was named MacLean's Magazine's Top 100 Canadians To Watch For in 1997. Even though he's somewhat limited when it comes to certain activities, such as driving (his friends drive his jeep around for him), he can still take in a game of golf. "My friends will tell me to aim for the tree and l'Il keep inching up. I can still do most of the same things I did before I went blind, I just do them differently." He warned students they will come into contact with disabled people throughout their lifetime and to treat them with respect. "People need help. You can't do everything by yourself. You have to rely on people to achieve your goals." United0 proudly prceente Saturday May 11, 2002 Elvis Tribute Artigt and Images of the King 2001 World Champion Featuring and accompanied by: TV PLAYERS - MEMPHIS SOUND ST. PAUUS UNITED CHURCH CHOIR Join us for an entertaining evening of popular Gompel musie and songs of Inspiration Tickets $25.00 - Show Tme 7:30 p.m. For tickets please cal 905-878-8895 or 905-878-6807 Location: St. Paul's United Church 123 Main Street, Milton, Ontario Ail proceeds to gt. Paul's United Church on't underestimate apabilities, blind man tells students