Today we feature someone, whose humour and strength, is sure to inspire you.

William Ryan Jopling is a shy, yet intrepid, adventurer who has been a volunteer for over 26 years. He is an avid hiker and dare devil who loves working out. His current goal is to be in the best shape of his life at 52. He has been a curler, dragon boater, tennis player, team manager, auction caller, Sherpa and so much more. William is also visually impaired and has been overcoming obstacles to live his best life since his diagnosis in primary school.

害羞草研究所淚 grew up on the east side of Winnipeg and attended a public school,害羞草研究所� shares William. 害羞草研究所淚 was the only blind kid in my neck of the woods. I had to carry the big CCTV (close-circuit television) the school provided from class to class. I was building muscle from a young age!害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚 want to show other blind people that vision impairment is not an obstacle or a roadblock,害羞草研究所� William answers when asked why he volunteers. 害羞草研究所淚t is something that you can adapt and overcome. Volunteering also shows good credibility for job openings.害羞草研究所�

William bravely learned to trust himself walking on different sides of a cliff, not knowing if there was a drop, or how big the drop might be. He feels that not having depth perception allowed him to not feel fear.

害羞草研究所淚 always say, 害羞草研究所榃here there is a Will (William) there is a way! And since I am Will there is always a way,害羞草研究所� he laughs. 害羞草研究所淚 love to challenge myself more each year and to try new things.害羞草研究所�

William started volunteering at CNIB in 1998 after joining the blind curling team, and is still doing so today. He has also volunteered with CRIS Adaptive Adventures and with Dragon Boat teams. He has won several medals, 害羞草研究所渋ncluding gold, lots of silver and some bronze over the years.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚n 1999, a lady at CNIB contacted me and said she was forming a dragon boat team,害羞草研究所� explains William.  害羞草研究所淎 group of us met to discuss the team and ended up forming the 害羞草研究所楽onar Dragons害羞草研究所�.  It was new to me and I never knew I could do it. Look at me now.害羞草研究所�

William takes pride in founding the Sonar Dragons and then also volunteering to manage the 害羞草研究所楾railing Paddle Monkeys害羞草研究所� Dragon Boat team in Winnipeg. 害羞草研究所淭hey weren害羞草研究所檛 doing well and after I went out to train them, they celebrated three first place and one third place finishes that season.害羞草研究所�

With CRIS Adaptive Adventures he volunteered for 14 years to help people with disabilities enjoy the outdoors.

害羞草研究所淚 was a volunteer 害羞草研究所淪herpa害羞草研究所� - the person who is on the front of the trail rider, pulling them through the trails,害羞草研究所� laughs William. 害羞草研究所淚 found my way because there was someone walking five feet in front of me and I followed their ankles.  If they tripped I would not step there.害羞草研究所�

William has a few favourite memories that he gained while volunteering, including getting the nickname 害羞草研究所淒onny害羞草研究所� because a CRIS participant thought he looked like Donny Wahlberg, and playing catch with a seal on a tennis trip.

害羞草研究所淲e were on Main Island and I threw the ball into the water and the seal threw it back,害羞草研究所� says William. 害羞草研究所淧eople just saw me throwing the ball and did not know who was throwing it back. It was amazing.害羞草研究所�

William encourages everyone to volunteer with organizations and opportunities they would learn from. 害羞草研究所淰olunteering with blind people and people with would be a humbling experience,害羞草研究所� he states, knowing that volunteers are needed in every organization to make it work. 害羞草研究所淵ou would gain so much new information and a new and different outlook.害羞草研究所�

To find your volunteer opportunity, contact us at or the VolunteerConnector (). CNIB is also looking for a Vision Mate and for this rewarding position go to .

Dorothee Birker is the communications & development manager for KCR Community Resources.