“Never stop going, you will reach your goal, just never give up. No matter what’s in your way, if you keep on trying, you can reach it.”
Francesca McDowell- Rockridge High School Grade 12 Student: Cyclebetes Organizing Team
It is an amazing sight to see what can be accomplished when you put your mind to it. It is has been even more amazing to see what has been (and is continuing to be) accomplished when when students across Canada put their minds to it… Doing what they can to become leaders in their community by hosting the Students Leadership Program and helping leave the world healthy and free from Diabetes.
Each week we have been highlighting Cyclebetes School Champions, students from across the country that have stepped up to make a difference. We invite you to get to know more about these extraordinary people. A new student will be featured every Wednesday afternoon, Learn more about them here.
Author: Grant Daisley Marketing manager of Cyclebetes and Capilano University student that’s an arms reach away from his degree. Catch up with me on twitter or on facebook.
He was just looking for a free snowboarding pass when he applied for a bus boy position at the top of North Vancouver’s Grouse Mountain, but Anthony Sedlak got more than he asked for. Within the year he moved from the front of the house to the back of the house where he found he passion for cooking and a love of food. Since then, Anthony Sedlak has:
worked his way through the kitchen at Grouse Mountain’s fine dining restaurant, The Observatory, where his last position was that of Executive Chef.
completed his BC Chefs’ Apprenticeship through Vancouver Community College.
moved to West London to work at La Trompette restaurant
Won a silver medal at the 2006 Hans Bueschken World Junior Chef Challenge in New Zealand
won Food Network’s Superstar Chef Challenge II
has hosted his own show on the Food Network call “The Main“.
and is now the Executive Chef at Vancouver’s newest restaurant, The Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe
All Anthony was looking for was a free snowboarding pass, but he got more than he was looking for.
Now Anthony’s giving something back, something that will take a bite out of Type 1 diabetes
Anthony has taken a renewed interest in cycling as a way to stay healthy and active as he puts in long hours at his new restaurant. In doing so, he has been riding a new Norco road bike throughout the streets Vancouver, and has decided to auction it off as a way to raise awareness and help find a cure.
But the Norco bike is just one of the ingredients in this sweet auction, Anthony Sedlak has also offered to prepare one of his signature, five star meals for you and 9 people of your choosing, this spring… right in your home!
When will you get another opportunity to do this?
While it’s hard to put a price on a slick road bike, an excellent meal, and the company of one of Canada’s hottest young Chefs… we’ll start the bidding at $4,000 and let you decide what it’s worth!
What’s for dinner you say?
If you’re the winning bidder, that’s something that you and Anthony will sit down and decide together…
Author: Grant Daisley Marketing manager of Cyclebetes and Capilano University student that’s an arms reach away from his degree. Catch up with me on twitter or on facebook.
That’s because my job as the Cyclebetes Director of School Initiatives allows me on-going communication with our student leaders across the country. I love the spirit of youth – there’s so much to learn from them! The internal critic that is dominating and forceful in our adult minds just hasn’t had the time to develop in young people and as a result they come up with amazing ideas! Their internal critic is saying, “Cool”, “Sweeeet” “Wicked”.” Ours is sounding more like this, “NO….Don’t say that it’s a bad idea!”, “NO….Everyone will laugh”, “NO….That’ll never work!”
The Cyclebetes student leaders come up with some really wild ideas, they reach for the sky and beyond. They say What if and Why not? They place goals and targets high on the scale. Adults around them encourage them to be realistic and to lower their expectations. Hearts in the right place of course – not wanting the students to be disappointed by ‘failure’. From what I’ve experienced as a mom, to a now almost 20 year old daughter, and from witnessing the journeys of the Cyclebetes student leaders isn’t it better to support the Can Do! attitude with encouragement and a silent inner critic and judge? Some of the most amazing, creative, extraordinary work my daughter produced was with a vision that I quietly thought was unattainable. She also experienced ‘failures’ but she simply picked herself up and kept running albeit on a slightly revised course. Sometimes the ‘failure’ impacted her more deeply but the lessons and the accelerated growth she gained from non-success was greater than previous successes! I’ve seen student leaders solve problems and go around obstacles with ideas I would never have thought of –and –they work – work very WELL! I’ve watched students debrief an event identifying with great enthusiasm parts that didn’t work but they’ve already got tons of amazing ideas for next time.
Failure – no problem - just a dip in the road on the way to success!
What I’ve learned from youth – Do not fear failure and if I can dream it – there’s a pretty good chance I can do it!
Thanks for the lessons!
As teachers you’re pretty good!
Author: Cheryl Wilson-Stewart Director of school initiatives. “Our responsibility is to mentor and support these young people they are outstanding!” She is also the founder of Mindblasting and author of several creativity curriculum in use throughout the world, Cheryl is a consultant to both business and education sectors.
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As both a business student and a member of the Cyclebetes team, I have the amazing opportunity to bring what I learn in the class room into Cyclebetes and what I learn form Cyclebetes into the classroom. One of the things that we do a lot of in the classroom is public speaking, something that (over time) I have become comfortable with. This isn’t the case, however, for everyone. Even at the forth year level, people still sweat, their nerves rattling their vocal cords as they speak - It is estimated that 95% of all speakers experience some form of anxiety/nervousness when public speaking.
This past weekend, myself and a few other students organized a Cyclebetes Spin-a-thon at Capilano University.
We had an excellent turn-out, with over 100 people coming and going through out the day, movies and music playing, Rock Band at one end, and a silent auction in the other. At the end of the day we had raised over $3,000 for JDRF.
At around 11:00, on the day of the event, Patti Philips, a nurse working in Diabetes care at the local hospital, came by to talk a little bit about Type 1 & 2 diabetes and increase the awareness of these two diseases. With her she brought a 9 year type 1 diabetic named Jack. Jack has been the JDRF youth ambassador for the last year, has has spoken at a number of different engagements about his diagnosis and what it’s like to live with Type 1 diabetes. Boy could he speak! He left the crowd astounded. Jack stood in front of a crowd of sweaty, spinning students, faculty, and supporter and put on a speech like a true professional… and he is only nine years old.
Where 95% of people are outside of their comfort zone, Jack stood their and put on a show.
There had to be a point when he said that “I Can Do this”
Author: Grant Daisley Marketing manager of Cyclebetes and Capilano University student that’s an arms reach away from his degree. Catch up with me on twitter or on facebook.
Well, this is it…blog #30 of our Transformation series!
What an amazing, transformational (AHA!!) experience this has been!
The blogs that I contributed this past month have had such a wonderful impact on me.
I have learned that I need to clear space to make room for transformation and that it begins with me accepting who I am.
I have been reminded that writing down the things that I like about myself puts me in a position of strength, prime for transformation.
I know that, without commitment and integrity, transformation is impossible.
I know that by sharing stories and experiences, others can be inspired to transform.
I see that there is a ripple effect that occurs from transformation and it pays forward to others, and beyond.
I have been wonderfully surprised by the origins and catalysts for transformation and have shared them with others.
I am comforted by the fact that transformation is perpetual.
What have you learned? Please share your comments below….
Author: Kim HexterDirector of Communication. A busy wife and mother of two boys aged 6 and 3, Kim is also Marathon Finisher and a 2 Time Half Marathon Finisher; she has hiked the Grand Canyon in one day, and has now traveled across Canada with both Team H2V and Cyclebetes.
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I see Can Do! attitudes in play every day.
At around 11:00, on the day of the event, Patti Philips, a nurse working in Diabetes care at the local hospital, came by to talk a little bit about Type 1 & 2 diabetes and increase the awareness of these two diseases. With her she brought a 9 year type 1 diabetic named Jack. Jack has been the JDRF youth ambassador for the last year, has has spoken at a number of different engagements about his diagnosis and what it’s like to live with Type 1 diabetes. Boy could he speak! He left the crowd astounded. Jack stood in front of a crowd of sweaty, spinning students, faculty, and supporter and put on a speech like a true professional… and he is only nine years old.
Well, this is it…blog #30 of our Transformation series!
