Pre-Bobsleigh, Pre-Olympics

Before I start telling you about what is happening in her journey to Haiti, I have to step back a bit to say that if you know Shelley-Ann, you will know that for as long as she can remember in the depths of her heart she has felt called to reach out overseas. Some people may look at that and say well, we have our own long list of problems right here and charity begins at home. I agree wholeheartedly that charity should begin at home and this is where it all started…. at home.

Her passion is with children and she often comments that “children are my favourite people in the whole world”. This propelled her to start a unique and affordable camp in 2005 - Camp E.D.I.F.Y. The term E.D.I.F.Y. stands for Education and Direction for Intelligent and Fit Youth reflecting her belief that children should be whole and healthy in every aspect of their being - whole in heart, whole in mind, whole in body and whole in spirit. She continues to volunteer as much as she can and is also an Honorary Big Sister to the Big Brothers and Sisters Organization of Ajax-Pickering. She still felt the call to reach out overseas.

She had been planning with a few other athletes an outreach trip to Haiti at the end of the 2010 bobsleigh season (after the Olympics) and 8 days before the tragedy struck, she was able to connect with an organization that had a mission in Haiti. She saw and felt deeply the devastation that Haiti experienced to the core of her being and it definitely put things in perspective once again for her.  She had to go!