David Powdrell
By David Powdrell
Gratitude. I’ve never felt this level of pure gratitude before.
So here’s the backstory. The year: 2008. The phone rings. It’s a friend from Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital. “Hey David, as a photographer could you stop by UCSB for about an hour and photograph a group of kids as they get off their respective buses? Oh, and these kids use wheelchairs.”
Gulp! I had no idea what to expect. I soon learned that the kids, ages 6-21, were happy, grateful, fun, and ready to push themselves into learning new and exciting sport activities.
After the first hour of witnessing the magic of true friendships and excited smiles, I called my wife. “Please cancel all my work related appointments, I’m here for the entire week to capture this.”
16 years and running, this continues to be my favorite week of the year. More importantly, it’s the favorite week of the year for the kids. I’m grateful to have this opportunity to capture their beautiful smiles, to give them images to share with parents and siblings or relatives. Mostly, the images remind each of them individually that they are loved, that they matter, and that they can accomplish amazing things.
They play rugby, tennis, basketball, box a bit, try scuba diving, run an obstacle course and do a ropes course, they try fencing, play racquetball, climb a rock wall, play soccer, dance, but mostly they laugh hard with good friends, as all kids should. With gratitude.
They approach life with a sense of joy and appreciation that is both humbling and inspiring.
Through my camera lens, I focus on their eyes mostly. The eyes tell me everything I need to know, their resilience, their laughter, their fear and the unique spark that makes each of them so unique and special.
These kids remind me that gratitude is not about having everything but about appreciating everything we have. Gratitude is a choice, a perspective, and a way of living that rises above circumstances.
These kids have taught me that gratitude is infectious. It’s contagious. It’s fun to be around. Thank you for this invaluable life lesson kids.
Rene Van Hoorn, her daughter Tara, Kathy Schmitt and LeAnna Lucero have honed the event every year and from my perspective, the 2024 Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp was the best one ever! A huge thank you to all the coaches, staff, volunteers, the Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation and the Goleta Valley Cottage Hospitals, UCSB Recreation Department and their staff, all the food vendors and the financial donors that make this event free to the campers and their families.
Wow, Thank YOU David!
Great story, thank you David.
Beautiful images and insights. Love your thoughts on gratitude. Feeling grateful for you!