Don McIntosh

I'm taking on Steptember! Will you please show your support?

Decades ago, back at my all-boys high school, a young woman in a wheelchair came to speak to us.

She lived with cerebral palsy. Now the fine details of that day have faded, but the image of her at the front of the lecture theatre is still vivid—the facial twitches, the lack of bodily control, and the immense physical struggle it took for her just to speak.

I can’t speak for what the other boys in the hall were thinking at the time. I only know what went through my own mind, and to be honest, I initially assumed that someone with such profound physical challenges must have been mentally disabled as well.

I couldn’t have been further from the truth.

She was articulate, sharp, and genuinely inspiring. Listening to her, the reality of the situation hit me: the staggering bravery it took for her to roll into a hall full of teenage boys, face our stares, and share her life so openly. At the same time, it broke my heart to realise that an eager, capable mind was trapped inside a body that refused to cooperate with her.

That encounter stuck with me for life. It was a powerful, enduring lesson never to judge anyone by their outward appearance—especially when it comes to visible physical disabilities. I will always be thankful she made the extraordinary effort to come and speak to us that day. Decades later, I’m willing to bet almost every boy who was in that room still remembers her.

That memory is the reason I’m taking on STEPtember.

Cerebral palsy impacts movement and coordination, but it should never cap a person’s potential or silence their voice. Every step logged and dollar raised goes directly toward specialized therapy, life-changing assistive technologies, and vital research that empower children and adults living with CP to navigate the world on their own terms.

Thank you to everyone who has supported my challenge so far. If you'd like to chip in, any contribution means a great deal and helps ensure people with CP get the tools and support they deserve.

Please donate now to my Steptember fundraiser.

Donate now for an instant mood boost! Thank you!