Happy July! It's my birthday month, and I am turning 30 years old. I am fortunate enough to have both my parents visiting me in Ontario this month while I train. For her birthday gift to me, Mom and I picked out the perfect thing: an 18k gold starfish pendant that I will wear around my neck when I race at the Olympics. The starfish reminds me of her, because she often wears some type of jewelry with a nautical theme.

My parents have been a huge source of inspiration for me in recent years. Both have fought their own battles with cancer with courage, tenacity, and resilience. In their own ways, they have taught me what is truly important in life, and it certainly puts things into perspective! Whenever I am tempted to worry about the uncertainty of sport (will I get to the Olympics one day? Will we win this race?), I think of the uncertainty that both parents have had to face with ongoing treatments – theirs is a bigger battle, and they deal with it with dignity.

The starfish reminds me of their strength.

I am also proud to be a Maritimer and the starfish reminds me of my roots. While I am now officially an Ontario resident by marriage, I'm originally from Fredericton, New Brunswick. I always look forward to my trips back to the 'homeland'… there's nowhere quite like the Maritimes. It has always brought joy to my heart. Any type of nautical object reminds me of that simple joy I find each time I go back.
 
But there's another little twist to the symbol of a starfish. There is an important story that helped me realize that I may have a part to play on this big earth… a way to leave a legacy, even if it's a small one. Friends of ours started a charity called the "Starfish Charity", based on the following story adapted by Loren Eiseley called The Star Thrower:
 
An old man had a habit of early morning walks on the beach.  One day, as he looked along the shore, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer.  As he came closer he saw that it was a young woman and she was not dancing but was reaching down to the sand, picking up starfish and very gently throwing them into the ocean.

"Young lady," he asked, "Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?"

"The sun is up, and the tide is going out, and if I do not throw them in they will die."

"But young lady, do you not realise that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it?  You cannot possibly make a difference."

The young woman listened politely, paused and then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves, saying:

"It made a big difference to that one."

The compassion I see in the young woman in the story is inspiring, and it is an encouragement to me as well. Now you know a big reason why I became involved with Right to Play. It's an athlete-driven international humanitarian organization that uses sport and play programs to improve health, develop life skills, and foster peace for children and communities in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world. Sounds like something I should be involved in!

I have hope that I can use my platform in sport to benefit others around me. Although it can seem very overwhelming in view of all the problems of the world today, it will make a big difference to somebody, somewhere.

Strength. Joy. Compassion. It's amazing what one simple starfish can symbolize.