SUMNER – Edwin and Dorothy Hinshaw have been sharing their love of sports with people with disabilities for 16 years. First through the Maine Handicapped Skiing program and for two years with the MHS canoe/kayak program.

The Hinshaws saw the program in action before they moved to Maine when they brought students to ski at Sunday River from the Sandy Spring Friends School in Maryland where Ed was principal and Dorothy was librarian.

They were so impressed with what the handicapped students could do, they vowed that when they retired to Maine in 1991 they would become involved in the program. That’s exactly what they did.

“We wanted to do something significant and the MHS is an important and rewarding program,” Dorothy said.

“When you see a blind person skiing down a mountain, that’s impressive,” Ed added.

“We became participants with a group of people who are needy and otherwise,” he said. “All our lives are enriched together. We work among 400 volunteers for the ski program and 50 for the summer program which includes kayaking, golf and cycling.”

One of their most inspiring students is Matt Fish from Hartford, who is blind. Matt lives with his grandmother, Mary Fish, who can’t say enough about how Matt’s life has been changed by the program and especially by the Hinshaws.

“Ed expects the best of Matt,” she said. “He encourages, mentors, makes him laugh and has helped Matt find his strength. He tells Matt, ‘You can do anything you want.'”

She also praised the MHS program. “The mentors don’t do the work for the participants, they make them use their own skills.”

Matt agrees: “I started skiing when I was eight years old, and Mr. Hinshaw has been my ski instructor for about 10 years since I was in 7th grade,” Matt said. “He’s not only my instructor, but he is a good friend.”

“I like skiing best, but I also like to bike,” he said.

When he skis, Matt has two guides behind him who transmit instructions to him which he receives through his headphones. When he bikes or kayaks, he only has one guide behind him.

The Maine Handicapped Skiing program is a year-round education and training program for those with physical disabilities. It is the largest year-round adaptive recreation program in the state. The program is free of charge to all participants and this includes equipment.

For more information you may contact Director of Outreach Kathy White at 1-800-7770 or http://www.skimhs.org.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

Matt Fish from Hartford kayaking on Range Pond recently as part of the Maine Handicap Skiing program based in Bethel. Matt is a blind participant, and his guide is in the kayak behind him giving Matt verbal directions.

Edwin and Dorothy Hinshaw of Sumner ready their kayaks for a trip to mentor and guide handicapped students on a kayaking trip. The Hinshaws have been volunteers in the MHS program for 16 years.