Presenting “MYLOW”
My Life on Wheels
By: Connor Fogal
Dec. 3, 2011 Shopper’s Square
First, I would like to thank everyone for coming to support the launch of my alter ego, Mylow.
Most of my life I have wondered what it would be like to go somewhere and not be stared at because I am in a wheelchair.
I am not all that different from you, just challenged because of my situation. With a “Yes I can, just watch me” attitude, I have not let cerebral palsy keep me from experiencing life.
Despite my physical limitations, I have been able to sit ski for eight seasons, skydive, rock climb, bike ride, and attend college all with adaptive equipment and the generosity from our community, and the support of the Washoe County School District. From these experiences, I decided to create “My Life on Wheels, Mylow”
Mylow is an advocacy organization I came up with to bring awareness to the world about all types of disabilities. I want to share my day-to-day life with the public through social media including, Facebook, Twitter, and Go-Cam videos on YouTube. I want to educate and bring to light things people with disabilities face that most people don’t even think about. Mylow is my voice, my perspective on life from a wheelchair.
But it doesn’t stop there for me: I want to be the voice for all types of people. Along with educating, I want to pay it forward by raising money to assist others in following their dreams. My first way of giving back is to donate a portion of the proceeds from my 2012 calendar sales to send four young people to Sky Tavern Adaptive Program to learn to ski this season. Bobo’s Mogul Mouse has teamed up with me to make sure that each recipient has everything they need. I want to thank Mary and the Bobo’s team for their generosity.
I want to thank Gracie, Ben and Lauren from the Small Business Development Center at UNR for their help in putting together my business plan and helping me develop my new website: mylownv.com. The Voc Rehab department for giving me a grant to get my business started. I want to thank Walt Lyman for helping with the design of my logo. I want to thank “Stitches” for making my Team Mylow shirts. I would like to thank Nevada Blue for all their help and support in printing all of my work. They have done a great job working with my budget. I would also like to thank Monica and the staff at Nails-a-Gogo for helping to sell my calendars. And I especially would like to thank Mr. Casazza and his staff and for donating my space here at the mall.
I would like to present this check for $420.00 to Bob Guererro of Sky Tavern’s Adaptive Ski Program. This check is only the beginning of what I will raise this year for ski scholarships. The first recipients of Mylow’s efforts are Tommy, Juan, Brady, and Gavin. I hope that you have as much fun learning to ski as I did. I will plan to come and ski with each of you.