I’m a quadriplegic. Without Active Together, I’d likely be stuck at home, feeling forgotten

Before the accident, my life was full and connected.

I’m a quadriplegic. Without Active Together, I’d likely be stuck at home, feeling forgotten.

Before my accident, I spent my days working part-time as a carpenter. I also studied alternative healing as it was a real passion of mine. My life was full, active and connected to the people and things I loved.

Then, in 2015, everything changed.

I was doing construction work with a friend. I was up on a ladder, about 12 feet high. As I started to climb down, something caught my eye. I turned to look, lost my balance and fell.

I landed hard on my neck and shoulder. I don’t remember much after that. When I woke up in the hospital, I was told I had a spinal cord injury. I was now a quadriplegic. That meant losing movement and feeling in all four limbs.

It’s hard to describe what it feels like to hear those words.

My world got very small. I had 24/7 care, physio four days a week and rarely left the house. I was grateful to be alive, but I felt isolated. Like I no longer had a place in the community. Like I’d been forgotten.

Finding Active Together

That’s when I found Active Together.

Active Together is a free, twice-monthly program offered by the Council for Persons with Disabilities (CPD) in Peterborough. It’s for people with visible and invisible disabilities — a space to try new things, connect with others and feel like you belong. It was a lifeline for me.

On my first Thursday with the group, something shifted. The people were kind. The energy was warm. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like myself again.

There’s always something different… music, painting, movement and guest speakers. I’ve never missed a session. I even started teaching some of them, sharing reiki and Healing Touch with the group.

What this program has given me

Your donations truly make a difference. I didn’t understand the full impact until I experienced it myself.

Being able to access recreation and social programs in my community has taken away so much worry. I believe this program has helped my recovery in ways nothing else could.

Why your support matters today

With more support, CPD can expand Active Together in 2026 and offer even more activities for people with disabilities. That growth would mean more chances to connect, stay active and feel supported. Not just for me, but for so many others who count on CPD to feel part of something.

Life can change so quickly. A fall. An accident. An illness. Suddenly everything is different. And when that happens to someone you love, or to you, you’ll want programs like this to be there, too.

Please consider making a donation

Your gift will help keep CPD’s Active Together program running. You’ll be giving people living with disabilities, like me, a space to feel seen, supported and included.

No one should have to face these challenges alone. And thanks to CPD, I never have..

Please give what you can today. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Randy Morrow
Active Together program participant