Collin Laflamme was the ES Rider recipient for 2008. Read the letter below to see how this personal transporter makes a difference in his life.
June 10, 2008
Dear Easter Seals and ES Riders Board Members,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and all of your generous sponsors for choosing me as one of the recipients of a Segway as part of your ES Riders program. I could not have imagined how much I would benefit from the incredible opportunity your program has provided me. The Segway X2 is awesome!
As you know, I have Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Brittle Bone Disease) and am unable to walk very far or for any extended time as my bones are weak and break very easily. The Segway is giving me the chance to be up on my feet for a much longer period of time before I feel tired. My doctors are excited about the benefits the Segway will provide in helping to strengthen my bones by standing for prolonged periods of time. In the two short weeks I have had it, I have already begun to see how much the Segway is going to help me in more ways than I ever thought possible.
My mom loves going on walks around our neighborhood; the Segway has allowed me to go with her on her walks while my brother accompanied us on his bike. My friends and I have taken it in the woods and I am so excited by the way it handles on the trails; I am an avid hunter and outdoorsman and this off-road Segway X2 is going to make it so much easier for me in the woods as compared to my wheelchair. This past weekend, I went to the beach and was able to go make it through the sand to the surf without any problems. My Segway already has 40 miles on it!
In addition to Easter Seals and ES Riders, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the McKelvie CAT Team for their hard work in raising money to make this happen for me.
I would especially like to thank the ES Riders Corporate Sponsors for their donations and support for this incredible program. It was an honor for me to participate in the “Easter Seals NH Walk with Me” charity walk last Thursday. I am proud to say that I was able to complete the entire walk with my mom and grandparents because of the Segway. I look forward to participating in and promoting this program in the future years as well!
Thank you all for this wonderful gift and amazing opportunity. I am looking forward to exploring all the doors this Segway will open for me in the future!
Sincerely,
Collin Laflamme
