Brian and Eileen Foley founded Padraig’s Place, a nonprofit named for their son Padraig to share skiing with children with disabilities. Padraig, 19, is a patient of Gillette physician Marcie Ward, an avid skier. Eileen & Brian approached Dr. Ward in 2009 to see if she would partner with them to create an adaptive winter ski event. Now Gillette Family Ski Day at Buck Hill is an annual event for Gillette’s patients and families.
“Having a child with special needs, I look at it as a point of pride to teach people about disabilities,” Brian said. “When I grew up in the ‘80s, I did not see disability presented in the media. Padraig and all the kids are here to teach us how to be compassionate, accepting and inclusive. We are giving kids and families the opportunity to try something different and experience life.”
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