For Makrina, Easter Seals has been part of her life for more than two decades. As a child living with cerebral palsy, camp became so much more than a summer adventure, it became a place where she found community, confidence, and people who believed in her. Years later, she returned to Easter Seals Camp as a counsellor, helping create those same life-changing experiences for a new generation of campers.
“What funds do for camp is life changing,” she says. “Kids go there and they come back and they say, ‘This is better than Disneyland.’ For some, this is the best week of their year.” Beyond the fun and unforgettable memories, camp gave her something even more meaningful: the chance to connect with other children who understood her experiences. “I remember my first time coming to camp being like, ‘Wow, there are others like me.'” Those friendships, along with the opportunity to later give back as a counsellor, helped shape the person she is today.
Now a psychologist who supports people recovering from physical and psychological injuries, Makrina carries those same lessons into her work and her life. This September, she’s stepping over the edge at Drop Zone to help ensure more children and families can experience the life-changing impact of Easter Seals camps. Her message is simple: “Yes, I can. Yes, you can.” She believes that everyone faces challenges, but with the right supports, incredible things are possible. “I believe that independence is built through that interdependence, that connection with other people.”
Makrina knows firsthand what can happen when someone believes in you. “One of the big things that I believe about camps is people become who they are because someone believed in them,” she says. “Whether that’s a parent, a camp counselor, a professional in their life, it can be a beautiful cycle. Someone believed in me and I learned to believe in myself, and now I can spend my life helping others as a psychologist.” She believes that when communities invest in accessibility, people are able to flourish, creating opportunities that ripple far beyond a single camp week. “The generosity of donors doesn’t change one moment in someone’s life, it changes the direction of their life.” Every donation to Drop Zone helps create those life-changing moments, empowering children and adults with disabilities to discover new possibilities, build confidence, and thrive. 
