At the Junction, we have a climbing team made up of kids from across the city. It’s a special group, training and climbing together as one, regardless of age, ability, or gender. Over the two years since the Junction has opened, they’ve made great strides, moving from novices to competing at the provincial level.
We’re proud of all of the kids on our team, and we thought we’d use this chance to share one of their stories. Emily Beaumont has been a member since before we even opened, and the day our Youth Climbing team started she joined. Emily trained hard each week, working her way up the difficulty grades on ropes and boulders.
A few months ago, she awoke with what appeared to be the flu… but it quickly escalated into delirium and breathing problems. A rushed trip to the hospital ended with a stay in the Pediatric Critical Care Unit and a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis.
Emily has let none if this set her back. Even with daily blood tests, injections, and diet monitoring, she’s put even more effort into her training, both with the team and on her own time. She’s competing harder than ever, missing the Ontario Climbing Federations Provincial Championship semifinals by just one place. She did the Telus Walk to Cure Diabetes this year as part of her stand against this disease. She is a planking machine, holding the pose for longer than anyone else on the team (including the much older kids that she trains with). And now she is starting to learn lead climbing, an advanced climbing skill.
Above all else, Emily is a great kid to have on the team. She is cheerful, hard-working, and puts her full effort in every time. We’re so proud of the work she has done in becoming an awesome person and awesome climber.
If you think your kid might be interested in climbing, you can come down to the gym anytime to try it. Waivers are required, and for anyone under 18 the waiver must be signed by a parent. We also have a weekly kids club starting up that is a great way to introduce kids to climbing. Information on this and all of our programs can be found at www.junctionclimbing.com.
Submitted by Junction Climbing Centre
