A new Newspaper Article!

Well. although this does not cocern my grand canyon trip exactly, I thought it would be interesting to post this newspaper article up on this blog.. Enjoy!
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By STEPHANIE REX
Eagle Staff Writer
June 18th, 2009

SLIPPERY ROCK — Feeling his way up and taking one step at a time, Tamas Geczy reached new heights June 18, achieving a climb that not many would typically expect him to accomplish.
Geczy, a vision impaired student from Cleveland, took part in Slippery Rock University’s VIP Sports Camp for the blind, which gives children from ages 6 to 18 a chance to reach their goals and experience challenging activities.
“This really helps me in self development,” Geczy said. “It helps me to become more independent and it really helps with that because the camp gets you to experience and try new things.”
As Geczy stepped up to the wall, an SRU student guided him step by step, helping him to start the long way up at the rock wall at the Aebersold Recreation Center. Patiently reaching for the next footholds, he gained speed, leaving the instructor at the ground.
“You got this,” the instructor said.
At about 25 feet above ground, Geczy reached the bell at the top and gave it a ring, as his friends cheered below.
Wendy Fagan, an SRU instructor in adapted physical activity, organized the camp, which has been held at SRU each summer for the last six years. She said the majority of the 51 students who attend don’t get the opportunity to participate in such a wide variety of sports at their public schools.
“This gives them increased confidence in themselves and great joy,” Fagan said. “They get to meet other kids who are visually impaired, and many times, they may be the only child in their whole school who is visually impaired.”
The camp ran June 16 to 19 with sports activities across campus, including track, golf, rock climbing, soccer, swimming, taekwondo and a dance party at camp’s end.
Fagan said the week at camp also proves to the children that they can accomplish anything.
“One of the boy’s said, ‘The only thing that you can do that we can’t do is see,’ and I just loved that,” Fagan said. “This reinforces that they can do anything they want to do.”
SRU students instruct all of the activities at the camp while the week is sponsored by Lions International and CVS/pharmacy. The students come from a three-hour radius from communities in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Timothy Clark of New Florence has attended the camp for five years. After climbing about 15 feet in the air, Clark came down, took a break and said, “I’m going to do it again,” with a smile.
“I think things like this are even harder for us,” Clark said. “We only rely on feel and other camps don’t give you the opportunity. I’m just blessed that I can get up in the morning and come and do this stuff at the camp.”
Clark, who wants to have a career in radio, said he has been thrilled to participate each year.
“When I get home, I am filled with stories of what I have done,” Clark said.
Clark said his favorite part of the camp is making new friends. As Geczy scaled the rock wall, he said, “My friend is actually rock climbing right now.”
“Some of these new friends can relate to what I am going through,” he said.