Updated: Wed Jan. 27 2010 14:53:33
ctvcalgary.ca
Every month CTV Calgary partners up with Volunteer Calgary to bring you stories about outstanding volunteers.
This month's Volunteer in Profile, Dale Richards, didn't let his disability blind him from the opportunities out there.
Four-year old Nathan has impaired vision and like all visually impaired people, he relies a great deal on all his other senses.
The Canadian Institute for the Blind (CNIB) provides many programs
and services for children and adults who are blind or partially
sighted.
But the organization is also an advocate.
Dale suffered vision loss in the early 80s, but discovered that he could do a lot for those like him.
He began volunteering for CNIB 14 years ago and has been the board chair for the last five.
"When you get to know Dale he has incredible passion so when he
believes in something there are no barriers that get in his way,” says
Cathy McFee, CNIB AB/NWT Executive Director.
Dale's focus now is to generate support across the country so that
libraries containing books for the blind will become publicly funded.
"We're the only G8 country where the alternate format library is
solely run through the generosity of the community through donations,”
says Dale who contributes greatly to the advocacy of the Right to Read
Campaign, and it’s only one of the many contributions that he makes.
He sees that funds are raised so that children, like Nathan, have
resources available at their fingertips, like bringing the Nessie to
CNIB.
"It's in the shape of the mythical loch ness monster and it's a
musical instrument and when one holds its fingers down over the ports
where water flows it's just like a pipe organ and you can actually play
music on it,” says Dale.
Dale's leadership, passion, and determination are what make him this month's Volunteer in Profile.
To nominate someone for Volunteer in Profile visit Volunteer Calgary's website at www.volunteercalgary.ab.ca.
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