Fearless Cassidy Memorial Fund

As our family desires to continue Cass’ fearless legacy and to make her passions come true, we donated some money and set up a memorial fund in Variety Village for people to continue to donate and support the fund. We hope that the donations will be able to encourage more para swimmers to get involved in swimming, and to inspire more athletes to hang on and persevere. The fund will be used to award two recipients every year, one from para swimming and one from another sport. Please join in to support Cassidy’s passion for para sports and support Variety Village which works with young people with disabilities and those who face developmental barriers to achieve their life potential, 

This link will take you directly to the giving page for the Fearless Cassidy Memorial Fund and all donations will go into the fund:

www.fearlesscassidyfund.ca

It can also be accessed by clicking the Cassidy icon on the Variety Village home page:

http://varietyvillage.ca/

The first two photos were taken at the presentation of the Fearless award at the Variety Banquet on Thursday June 11. THE wonderful recipients of the Fearless Award 2015 are: Aly Van Wyck from the Flames and Charlotte McAfee Brunner from Taekwondo.

 

Aly Van Wyck, the Flames

Charlotte McAfee Brunner, Taekwondo

We are so privileged to have the coach of the Flames Swim Team to present these awards at the ceremony. We are so touched by the presentation awards speech and would like to share with you all as below.

Cass's swim team

"I am standing before you today, representing the Flames Team and the Family of our teammate Cassidy Sheng.

I asked some of the swimmers on the team to tell me what they thought should be included in my talk tonight. I asked them who Cassidy was, what she did and who she will continue to be.

A lot of what I am going to say to you comes directly from them.

For many of us on the Flames Cassidy was the first amputee we ever met. She was the first person we ever saw take off her leg and leave it on the side of the pool before jumping in for a swim. And, a lot of us stared at her. When we attended swim meets, others starred, gawked really. And I think maybe some felt pity, we could all see it.

And I am not going to lie to you, this bothered our Cass. She started off her swimming career wearing a swim suit with a little skirt around it to cover the stump. We could see her discomfort. But gradually that little skirt went away. And she became just a swimmer. She became a passionate, enthusiastic fashionista. She became easy to talk to, a good listener, a best friend. She became a determined, driven role model; a teammate.

She became our teacher.  She taught us that a person is not made up of body parts. And that sometimes the parts that make us different are the very best ones!

Cassidy became FEARLESS.

Swim suit with little skirt

And just so we are clear, fearless does not mean the absence of fear. Fearless doesn’t mean you are not scared.

Cause if you are not scared you’re probably not human.

And Cassidy was scared. She was scared of being the only amputee, of failing or falling, of cancer, of people forgetting her.

Again, fearlessness is not the absence of fear. Fearlessness is when you are truly freaked out, but you do it anyways.

Just like Cass did. Time after time we saw her get up on the blocks, strong, sturdy; balanced. To dive in and show people all the amazing things she could do. In truth she could do anything!

For the Flames tonight is about remembering the girl who laughed all the time. She laughed a belly aching, tears in your eyes kind of laugh in the middle of Pearson International Airport when her good friend Victoria flew out of her wheelchair in front of everyone.

It’s about remembering her every time we hear a song, or go to CAN AMs, or swim butterfly

It’s about remembering the girl who was different from everyone else.

The girl who everyone thought was missing something, and watching her show them instead that she had something extra.

Something special.

The recipients of tonight’s Cassidy Sheng Fearless award have something different, something special. According to Cassidy’s definition “Fearless” is to be determined; don’t ever give up! Hard working, a great leader, knowing the word impossible isn’t true, breaking limits, have crazy goals and dreams. “Fearless” in a positive way.

.....remember these two athletes have demonstrated these attributes this year. They stand up at every practice, every competition, FEARLESS!..........." By Cori, coach of Flame swim team.