Hope Charity Award

The Rollettes Foundation Honors Disability Advocacy

Thirteen years ago, wheelchair dance icon, Chelsie Hill, dreamed of a ballroom full of women dancing in wheelchairs. What started as a small vision has grown into a movement that is breaking barriers and empowering women and children with disabilities thanks to the Rollettes Foundation. Their mission is to empower women with disabilities to live boundlessly and shift perspectives globally.

Every summer, the Rollettes team hosts a dance experience that is open to all ages and all disabilities, bringing people together from all over the globe. The in-person event includes a variety of speakers, performers and coaches who understand what it means to live with a disability.

This year, the Rollettes Foundation hosted “A Night in the Palms” – a celebration of resilience, inclusion, and boundless possibility, honoring five outstanding advocates for disability.

I was fortunate enough to accept the “Hope Charity Award” on behalf of Wings for Life, spinal cord injury research foundation— an organization I am deeply passionate about and am whole-heartedly committed to as a member of the Board of Directors.

Accompanying me on stage was Wings for Life Ambassador Captain, Steph Aiello, a prolific influencer, mentor, and disability advocate who uses her platforms to empower and encourage beyond disability.

In Steph’s own words:
“Wings for Life is not just an organization, it’s a beacon of hope for people facing one of the most challenging physical and emotional battles of their lives. The organization is dedicated to supporting groundbreaking spinal cord injury research, with the ultimate goal of finding a cure for paralysis.
But beyond the science and research, Wings for Life embodies a spirit of resilience, offering a community of support for those who may feel isolated by their condition. Wings for life offers more than just hope, it offers a future. It offers the possibility of regaining lost mobility, of living a life with your limitations, and having a chance to experience freedom once again.”

Other award recipients included:

• The “Bridge Builder Award” presented to Keely Cat-Wells and Making Space Media
• The “Community Ally Award” presented to Valerie Teague and Abilities Expo
• The “Trailblazer Award” presented to Paul Lane
• The “Lifetime Achievement Award” presented to Bobby Rohan

For more information about these incredible individuals and organizations visit:

• www.wingsforlife.com
• www.rollettesdance.com
• www.making-space-media.com
• www.abilities.com
• @chelsiehill – Chelsie Hill
• @uwalk_iglide – Steph Aiello

We are stronger together!

Aaron