Today we feature someone, whose humour and strength, is sure to inspire you.

William Ryan Jopling is a shy, yet intrepid, adventurer who has been a volunteer for over 26 years. He is an avid hiker and dare devil who loves working out. His current goal is to be in the best shape of his life at 52. He has been a curler, dragon boater, tennis player, team manager, auction caller, Sherpa and so much more. William is also visually impaired and has been overcoming obstacles to live his best life since his diagnosis in primary school.

sa国际传媒淚 grew up on the east side of Winnipeg and attended a public school,sa国际传媒� shares William. sa国际传媒淚 was the only blind kid in my neck of the woods. I had to carry the big CCTV (close-circuit television) the school provided from class to class. I was building muscle from a young age!sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淚 want to show other blind people that vision impairment is not an obstacle or a roadblock,sa国际传媒� William answers when asked why he volunteers. sa国际传媒淚t is something that you can adapt and overcome. Volunteering also shows good credibility for job openings.sa国际传媒�

William bravely learned to trust himself walking on different sides of a cliff, not knowing if there was a drop, or how big the drop might be. He feels that not having depth perception allowed him to not feel fear.

sa国际传媒淚 always say, sa国际传媒榃here there is a Will (William) there is a way! And since I am Will there is always a way,sa国际传媒� he laughs. sa国际传媒淚 love to challenge myself more each year and to try new things.sa国际传媒�

William started volunteering at CNIB in 1998 after joining the blind curling team, and is still doing so today. He has also volunteered with CRIS Adaptive Adventures and with Dragon Boat teams. He has won several medals, sa国际传媒渋ncluding gold, lots of silver and some bronze over the years.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淚n 1999, a lady at CNIB contacted me and said she was forming a dragon boat team,sa国际传媒� explains William.  sa国际传媒淎 group of us met to discuss the team and ended up forming the sa国际传媒楽onar Dragonssa国际传媒�.  It was new to me and I never knew I could do it. Look at me now.sa国际传媒�

William takes pride in founding the Sonar Dragons and then also volunteering to manage the sa国际传媒楾railing Paddle Monkeyssa国际传媒� Dragon Boat team in Winnipeg. sa国际传媒淭hey werensa国际传媒檛 doing well and after I went out to train them, they celebrated three first place and one third place finishes that season.sa国际传媒�

With CRIS Adaptive Adventures he volunteered for 14 years to help people with disabilities enjoy the outdoors.

sa国际传媒淚 was a volunteer sa国际传媒淪herpasa国际传媒� - the person who is on the front of the trail rider, pulling them through the trails,sa国际传媒� laughs William. sa国际传媒淚 found my way because there was someone walking five feet in front of me and I followed their ankles.  If they tripped I would not step there.sa国际传媒�

William has a few favourite memories that he gained while volunteering, including getting the nickname sa国际传媒淒onnysa国际传媒� because a CRIS participant thought he looked like Donny Wahlberg, and playing catch with a seal on a tennis trip.

sa国际传媒淲e were on Main Island and I threw the ball into the water and the seal threw it back,sa国际传媒� says William. sa国际传媒淧eople just saw me throwing the ball and did not know who was throwing it back. It was amazing.sa国际传媒�

William encourages everyone to volunteer with organizations and opportunities they would learn from. sa国际传媒淰olunteering with blind people and people with would be a humbling experience,sa国际传媒� he states, knowing that volunteers are needed in every organization to make it work. sa国际传媒淵ou would gain so much new information and a new and different outlook.sa国际传媒�

To find your volunteer opportunity, contact us at or the VolunteerConnector (). CNIB is also looking for a Vision Mate and for this rewarding position go to .

Dorothee Birker is the communications & development manager for KCR Community Resources.