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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, M ay 30 ,2 01 9 | 22 Metroland Media's Halton division photojournalist Nikki Wesley is thinking outside of the box with a new profile series that aims to shine a different light on those who call Halton home. Interview subjects are asked to pose for photos with an item that is impor- tant to them. Eric Morden, 18, was diag- nosed with Duchenne mus- cular dystrophy (DMD) in 2002 and has been an active advocate for a cure. He in- spired Eric's Amazing Race - a car rally and silent auc- tion in Burlington that raised more than $230,000 for Jesse's Journey for med- ical research. He doesn't let DMD slow him down and is an active mentor of his high school robotics team, a mu- sician and a wheelchair hockey player. He is headed to Carleton University in the fall to study biology. Describe your- self in one word Optimistic Q: In one word how would your parent/boss/signifi-your parent/boss/signifi-y cant other describe you? A: Inspiring Q: What are your favou- rite qualities in a person? A: Passion, Kindness, Hu- mour, Sincerity Q: What is your idea of happiness? A: My idea of happiness is just relaxing and socializing with my friends while watching movies, TV or fun- ny videos. Q: What are you most pas- sionate about? A: I am most passionate about being kind to people, and helping others if there is a problem. Q: What's your favourite smell? A: My favourite smell is my house when I have been away for a long time. Any time wefor a long time. Any time wef get back from our cottage or a long vacation I always love going back into our house and smelling the scent that I don't usually smell because I am so used to it. Q: What's your least fa- vourite word? A: My least favourite word is impossible because to me that means that there is no hope for a problem to be solved. It was said to be im- possible that there would be a good treatment or a cure for DMD, but many hard-for DMD, but many hard-f working people have proven that it is not impossible. Good medical treatments are starting to exist for DMD, and one day I am sure that there will be a cure. Q: Who are your heroes? Why? A: My heroes are other peo- ple that are living with DMD, and the people that are working hard to treat the disease and one day even cure it. Q: Who is your favourite fictional character? Why?fictional character? Why?f A: I would say that my fa- vourite fictional charactervourite fictional characterv is Tony Stark/Iron Man. I have enjoyed watching this character grow through all the movies he has been in. He is always so sarcastic and silly, has a big heart, and cares about so many people. Q: What got you interest- ed in robotics? A: What got me interested in robotics was being a part of LEGO Robotics and VEX Robotics throughout ele-Robotics throughout ele-R mentary school. I was a part of a LEGO Robotics club outside of school for a few years and I always had lots of fun building and pro- gramming the robotics. Q: What was it like being the featured face for Er- ic's Amazing Race? A: It was great being the fea- tured face for Eric's Amaz- ing Race because it was a great event and I knew that I was inspiring people for liv- ing with this disease. I was very shy when I was little, so at first I was always kind of nervous being at the centre of attention. But the older I got the more I learned to ap- preciate what was going on, and I used this opportunity to talk to more people and inspire more people to con- tinue supporting the event. Q: How has living with Duchenne muscular dys- trophy affected you? A: It has affected me in many different ways both positively and negatively. It has made my life harder because many everyday things are getting harder to do, including walking and standing for long dura- tions. However, from this disease I have been able to meet more people and feel the kindness of people working hard to find a cure for my disease. My DMD al- so was the reason for the creation of Eric's Amazing Race, which brought to- gether family and friends and I always had a great time at the event. I have al- so just recently started playing power wheelchair hockey where I have a great time playing the game, so- cializing with all the other players, and becoming part of a great community. Q: How does it feel to be heading to Carleton in the fall? Did you think alwaysfall? Did you think alwaysf think you would be head- ing to post-secondary? A: I am very excited to be heading to Carleton in the fall, and excited for all thefall, and excited for all thef opportunities that will be available to me. available to me. a Q: Why did you choose to study biology? A: I chose to study biology because of my muscular dystrophy. I have always been interested in what causes my disease and learning about how it could possibly be treated. I hope that by studying biology I can learn even more about other genetic diseases, and one day go into researching ways to cure and treat these diseases. Q: What is something you wish everyone knew about you? A: The DMD does make my life more difficult, but even in this tough situation I am always staying positive and looking for the silver lining in everything. Q: If you could give the world one piece of advice what would it be? A: Just because a problem seems impossible, doesn't mean that it can't be solved. Q: Why did you choose these objects? What does it represent for you/ mean to you? A: I chose this Robotics Team Shirt because it repre-Team Shirt because it repre-T sents my interest in science, and it is a reminder of the great time I had on my school robotics teams. I chose my clarinet because I love music, and it reminds me of the fun times I had while playing in my high school band. I chose my power wheelchair hockey stick because I had a great time playing on the team, and love the community that I became a part of. If you know someone who should be considered for this profile series, email Nikki Wesley at nwes- ley@metroland.com. COMMUNITY Eric Morden, who lives with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, keeps active with his high school robotics team, as a musician and a wheelchair hockey player. Nikki Wesley/Torstar THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX: ERIC MORDEN