The Inspiration Center - it's Kim Barrow's dream for physically challenged children. But while most dreams just stay up there in the clouds, she brought this one to earth, and to life - by relentless promotion and fundraising. Today it culminated in the opening of the center, a world-class facility which was built in just 18 months. 7News was at the opening - which was a "standing room only" event:..
Jules Vasquez reporting
The clatter of drums set the tone for today's event which was a celebration in song and in word of a long and emotional journey that saw Kim Barrow and her dream make it intact through tough times:
Kim Barrow, Special Envoy for Women and Children
"Images just flash back to this moment and it's an emotional day for me. I can recall coming back from one of my chemotherapy treatments and I was really worried that this wasn't going to happen. It was at that point that I realize maybe I was biting more than I could chew and I was kind of desperate."
But she fused that desperation into the most ambitious and most successful fund raising drive the country has ever seen, the product of which was apparent today in the gleaming new 1.7 million dollar center.
Kim Barrow, Special Envoy for Women and Children
"That's why I really got emotional because just to see this building here that was supposed to not happen at a point in time."
Inside, the center is outfitted with the full range of equipment needed for physical, speech and occupation therapy as well as hydro therapy.
Kim Barrow, Special Envoy for Women and Children
"Behind these walls there is the potential now to change the lives of so many children."
Kendra Griffith, Executive Director - Inspiration Center
"Really the hard work actually begins now with the provision of services to this population."
And, going forward, the center draws its inspiration from this man Dr. Einstein Bodden from Corozal. He has kyphoscoliosis but that did not stop him from becoming a medical Doctor:
Dr. Einstein Bodden MD, Guest Speaker
"I have always been of the opinion that the limit to one's ability exists only in the mind. When we let our dreams and aspirations get in dictated by limitations and clouded by doubts, we by default become disabled. Thus, I challenge all to ditch or expunge that hindering mindset called disability and aspire for nothing less than infinity."
And they have reached that distant horizon from a small idea that started incubating in schools like this one in Chunox in 2009
Kim Barrow, Special Envoy for Women and Children
"This will be a place of hope, a place of refuge, a place of inspiration."
"This is really the people's Inspiration Center. You all made it happen and I will be eternally grateful."
Today was the soft opening - and the formal opening is April 14th when all services will be offered.
The center is located at mile one and a half on the Western Highway.
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