Community Star finalist: Kevin Frost

He has been faced with vision and hearing problems from a young age. Kevin lives with 5 per cent of his vision and 10 per cent of his hearing.

His motto in life is"When someone throws you a negative, throw them back a positive."

This young man has gone on to become a champion speed skater and rower. I admire Kevin the most because every day he does his best to help people around him. I know he went on vacation in Mexico and helped out a deaf boy with some donated funds and hearing aids.

I witness Kevin, every day that he comes to the Orléans Rec Centre to train, making people happy, uplifting people and inspiring them. Kevin and his dog Nemo are forever friendly, happy and upbeat. They have become familiar figures in the rec centre. They both always have time to stop and give some encouragement and friendly chats.

Kevin heard that one of my three teenage daughters was born severely disabled. He listened to my story of how we were waiting for the New Ottawa Rotary Home to open so we could get some respite and go for a vacation. He amazed me one day when he told me he was going to get some fellow speed skaters together and do a 100-km skate on the canal to raise much needed funds for the adult section of our home. The adult section, as of now, has no funding and parents are without a hope of service once their disabled child reaches 21.

For a blind and deaf man to reach out to help others in this way, this just blows my mind. This humbles my spirit. Kevin, you are my shining community star. -- Submitted by Katherine Arroyo