Shelley loves cycling and she loves racing. Shelley’s competitive spirit and dogged determination have always been her driving forces. Shelley participated in many team sports and then she discovered mountain bike racing. She loved the challenges of mountain bike racing, the setting of personal goals and ultimately achieving them.
In 2001 Shelley was in a mountain biking accident and suffered a severe head injury leaving her in a coma for 6 weeks. Her recovery and rehabilitation were arduous, but Shelley persevered and now lives an independent life as a hemiplegic. Before her accident Shelley was a practicing physiotherapist and knows well the importance of keeping physically active and she has applied this knowledge and experience throughout her own recovery.
Within a year of her accident Shelley was cycling again on a specially modified recumbent trike. In June of 2002, Shelley participated in the annual “Ride for Heart” completing the 25 km ride in three hours and forty-five minutes. Every year since she has trained hard in order to reduce her time and in 2007 she decided to attempt the 50 km ride and managed to complete that loop in just over three hours.
In August of the same year Shelley participated in the Niagara Region 100 km Ride for Heart. Shelley has been involved in many sports for the disabled –skiing, sailing, horse riding and even indoor rock climbing, but her ultimate wish is to be able to race bikes again. Through hours of research, many phone calls and e-mails, Shelley now has the loan of a UCI trike donated by the Quebec Cycling Association and the support of the Ontario Cycling Association. In August of this year she travelled with UCI trike in tow, to the Olympic Oval National Cycling Centre in Calgary to participate in a training camp. There, the Program Coordinator and Head Coach Stephen Burke, former coach of the National Paracycling Team, assessed that Shelley was an excellent candidate to represent Canada in the London 2012 Paralympics.
For Shelley, this is an opportunity to fulfil her dream to once again race competitively. Shelley has put together a strong team of people prepared to help train and support her on her “Road to London”.
Shelley, it was wonderful seeing you again, and you are truly an inspiration to us all, we will do all that we can to help you realize your dreams, your family is backing you up 100%! We hope to see you race in May in Montreal, you know that my dad will try his best to be there!!
Love from Laura Gautier-Harper
Hi Shelley. I’m a friend of your cousin Laura. I asked her for the link to your page, and I must say, I am more than impressed with your progress. I work with people who have suffered an ABI. I understand the uphill battle you have faced and continue to face. I will be talking to some people I work for and with for some ideas to hopefully help you reach your goals. In the mean time….Keep up the great job your are doing!
Bonnie
Shelley:
You have such inner strength, and truely are an inspiration for all of us. Keep it up girl.
love Yvonne Gautier-VanBussel
Hey Shelly, great to see you doing so well.
We met at one of the 24hr of Summer Solstice mountain bike races before your accident, when you came over to ask me about my recumbent offroad racer (which I ride due to a neck injury). Last time we met you were just trying out your first trike in Hilton Falls.
I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to see you rocking the world on your supertrike, and will be cheering for you. Go get ‘em in London!
-Richard
Shelley! I was just catching up on a friend’s blog and while browsing, randomly got to yours. I’m happy to see you are well and still riding strong on the bike. I look forward to following your journey to 2012.
~Jackie
Hey Shelly, Simon from Japan here. Heard you on Georgena Terry’s podcast, really admire your efforts and sense of humor. Go get them in London.