00:00:00:00	00:00:09:00	The Plum Skeeters was originally
00:00:09:00	00:00:10:00	formed in 1960 And welcomes new
00:00:10:00	00:00:11:00	members each year.
00:00:11:00	00:00:13:00	Today the group participates In
00:00:13:00	00:00:14:00	ski competitions around
00:00:14:00	00:00:14:00	the state that allow them to
00:00:14:00	00:00:17:00	show off their Talent.
00:00:17:00	00:00:18:00	They also hold educational ski
00:00:18:00	00:00:21:00	events for all Ages.
00:00:21:00	00:00:24:00	But first we'll meet A woman
00:00:24:00	00:00:25:00	making it her mission to get
00:00:25:00	00:00:26:00	everyone skiing and out on
00:00:26:00	00:00:29:00	the water As we head to learn
00:00:29:00	00:00:32:00	about how the nonprofit Graceful
00:00:32:00	00:00:33:00	Wakes got its start.
00:00:33:00	00:00:43:00	I love absolutely everything
00:00:43:00	00:01:15:00	about water skiing Once Grace
00:01:15:00	00:01:19:00	started water Skiing I remember
00:01:19:00	00:01:19:00	Dennis, a friend of ours came up
00:01:19:00	00:01:23:00	to me and said So do you water
00:01:23:00	00:01:23:00	ski?
00:01:23:00	00:01:27:00	>> I'm like No, my name is Wendy
00:01:27:00	00:01:29:00	and I'm Grace's.
00:01:29:00	00:01:30:00	>> If I were to describe my mom
00:01:30:00	00:01:33:00	I would definitely say She's a
00:01:33:00	00:01:34:00	fighter.
00:01:34:00	00:01:35:00	She's been through a lot in her
00:01:35:00	00:01:37:00	life but she's shown me that She
00:01:37:00	00:01:38:00	has the strength necessary to
00:01:38:00	00:01:38:00	keep pushing through all
00:01:38:00	00:01:43:00	the obstacles she's Been through
00:01:43:00	00:01:43:00	.
00:01:43:00	00:01:44:00	Two days before my 17th birthday
00:01:44:00	00:01:45:00	that I was injured in a car
00:01:45:00	00:01:47:00	accident That damaged my spinal
00:01:47:00	00:01:50:00	cord resulting in my paralysis
00:01:50:00	00:01:51:00	Being able to ski with her and
00:01:51:00	00:01:52:00	that was something I never
00:01:52:00	00:01:55:00	thought I'd be able to do.
00:01:55:00	00:01:58:00	Grayson I and Our family had
00:01:58:00	00:01:58:00	the opportunity to participate
00:01:58:00	00:02:01:00	in an adaptive clinic in Florida
00:02:01:00	00:02:02:00	.
00:02:02:00	00:02:03:00	It was a feeling of freedom and
00:02:03:00	00:02:06:00	something so Different than what
00:02:06:00	00:02:07:00	I had ever experienced before to
00:02:07:00	00:02:09:00	be out of your Wheelchair and
00:02:09:00	00:02:09:00	gliding across the water.
00:02:09:00	00:02:13:00	It was just An amazing feeling.
00:02:13:00	00:02:14:00	So that was like one of
00:02:14:00	00:02:17:00	the highlights Of my life being
00:02:17:00	00:02:18:00	able to share something that I
00:02:18:00	00:02:19:00	love so much and be able to
00:02:19:00	00:02:21:00	participate In it with my mom
00:02:21:00	00:02:24:00	after that experience I realized
00:02:24:00	00:02:25:00	that I wanted to provide that
00:02:25:00	00:02:27:00	same opportunity and ability To
00:02:27:00	00:02:28:00	water ski to other endeavors
00:02:28:00	00:02:31:00	individuals with physical
00:02:31:00	00:02:32:00	Cognitive disabilities and so
00:02:32:00	00:02:35:00	therefore with the help My
00:02:35:00	00:02:36:00	parents we founded the nonprofit
00:02:36:00	00:02:40:00	organization Graceful Lakes
00:02:40:00	00:02:45:00	Ready one two three.
00:02:45:00	00:02:46:00	>> Traditional water skis do not
00:02:46:00	00:02:48:00	really necessarily Fit
00:02:48:00	00:02:49:00	the abilities of every skier.