易胜博官网

When Debra Boucher retired in 2017, she faced some lifestyle adjustments beyond those of the average retiree. A once-avid hiker and biker, on and off the trail, the Manchester, 易胜博官网, resident had given up the sports she loved after a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

But then a friend told her about Northeast Passage. The 易胜博官网-based adaptive sports and therapeutic recreation program has been serving individuals with disabilities since 1990.

鈥淚 was a recreational biker and hiker 鈥� I did all the 4,000-footers in 易胜博官网,鈥� Boucher says. 鈥淚n fact, walking and hiking are two of the things I miss being able to do the most. But once I found out about Northeast Passage and everything that they do, I was able to become active again.鈥�

Boucher says she has tried just about all the adaptive sports Northeast Passage has to offer: biking, waterskiing, golf, archery, kayaking. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 say enough about them,鈥� she says.

If Philip and Shirley Gravink can鈥檛 say enough about the program, it鈥檚 not only because their daughter, Jill Gravink 鈥�86, 鈥�07G, is the founder. They have read the annual reports for the last 28 years.

"Every year, the number of clients has grown,鈥� Philip Gravink says. 鈥淲e want that to be the case long after we鈥檙e gone and long after Jill has retired. We want Northeast Passage to continue; it鈥檚 evident that it is fulfilling a great need.鈥�

That thinking led the Gravinks to set up a bequest that will support Northeast Passage. Philip鈥檚 sister Marilyn Fierri has matched their gift and both bequests will add to the Deleo Gravink Fund established by Philip鈥檚 sister Deleo before she died.

鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter what sport it is, they find a way help people, to get them out there,鈥� Shirley Gravink says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not hard to support that.鈥�

Boucher echoes the Gravinks鈥� admiration for the organization. 鈥淭hey are really professional and really patient,鈥� says Boucher. 鈥淚鈥檝e seen them in action in so many situations and they are just great. And I really appreciate what they do with veterans. I love what they do for me, but I love what do for veterans even more.鈥�

Boucher says there was a 鈥渂ig lag time鈥� between when she had to give up her active life and when she found her way to Northeast Passage.

鈥淭hey gave me that part of my life back. That鈥檚 why I love them,鈥� Boucher says. 鈥淚t has made such a difference. I tell people about Northeast Passage all the time.鈥�