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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