The experience of a lifetime, every single time that I have been privileged and invited to go on the holiday.
I have been on the holiday five times now and without any exceptions the experience is beyond words, I will try to do justice in this letter but I feel that the words cannot do justice to the experiences.
Without any doubt every child no matter what their problem, gains more from the holiday in ten days than they could in five years or even ten years.
The children go with expectations of their possible achievements and they all surpass them tenfold, coupled with many different activities and experiences that are surrounding them. The invigorating atmosphere of the mountains is what seems to hit them most and initially, they have just spent 24 hours or more on a coach getting to know their new friends, then they are there with the scenery and the snow and the excitement, this is where it all becomes a reality as to what they are going to do.
The experiences just do not stop, yes they get tired but the whole thing keeps them going, battling on from one thing to the next, including the evening entertainment, that brings their true characters out, they show their true colours.
Children who at home and in their protective and normal environments would not dream of doing things that they end up doing from karaoke to silly games and dressing up.
The surprises are awe inspiring their faces say what words cannot.
As I said I have been a ski guide for many years I specialise with the children that are wheelchair users and cannot use their legs and have to use an adaptive ski called a Bi-Ski, it is very hard work but so rewarding to hear the children screaming with joy as we go down the ski slope at a speed and in a manner that they would not experience in any other medium.
Since being invited by Martin and Michelle seven years ago I look forward every year to being invited back again and am dreading the year that I am not invited. I get so much from the holiday; I freely give up my time to do it and am glad that I have a skill that can be of used to the utmost to help some of these children. I thank God every trip that I have two healthy lads and this is my way of saying thank you.
When I get asked about the holiday I can talk for hours just flipping from one part of the holiday to another, there is just too much to talk about and every bit of it leaves me with wonderful memories of the faces of the children and the other helpers.
For the last two years my eldest son has also become a qualified ski guide, has been invited to join me with the bi-skis. I have never felt so proud of him. Without any doubt the first holiday changed him and his outlook on life, it gave him a wealth of love, feelings and appreciation that he previously just did not have. Not only in his abilities but that of others, He is a much better human being because of Katie's Ski Tracks.
Andy Cleverdon
Ski Guide and Paramedic