Name: Kathy Marshall
How long have you lived in Maple Ridge? I moved here in 1973, from back east. The community has been good to me and I’ve never wanted to leave!
What inspires you to give? It definitely came from my mother. She always told me that you get out of life what you put into it. She was very active in our community; we lived in a small village.
Who is your hero? My brother. He got polio when he was 10 years old; he is now 75. He was valedictorian of his high school class. His wife also had polio. They are both incredible activists; she contributed a lot to the American Disabilities Act, visited the White House, etc. They are incredible people.
My mother wouldn’t let the polio be a big issue. She refused to let people treat her son differently. She advocated for him to attend school, which nobody was keen on since there were lots of stairs and he required special assistance. She simply wouldn’t accept no for an answer, and arranged for four boys from our village to tote my brother in his wheelchair up and down the stairs in between classes.
What makes you proud to be from Maple Ridge? The people. This is a great community; I love everything about Maple Ridge. Our location, the mountain scenery, great schools.
What do you do to keep yourself happy and healthy? I play Bridge, do lots of crossword puzzles and surround myself with great friends.
