| Author, paralympic champion and motivational speaker Mike Schlappi captured his audience with witty, irreverant and touching moments from his life. He encouraged the crowd to adjust their attitudes and to most of all take personal responsibility for their lives. |
More than 250 Carbon County residents turned out last week to check out a myriad of resources that were on display in the main hallway at Carbon High School at the 3rd Annual CCHFC Family Night.
Carbon County Healthy Family Coalition sponsored “Stand Up In Your Community” which brought together representatives from mental health, law enforcement and children’s services to provide parents with materials and contacts.
The material laden tables offered information on everything from child and adolescent bipolar disorder to tips for quitting smoking to anger management support groups.
The Utah Highway Patrol came equipped with free gun locks that the officer gladly handed out to passersby who stopped to chat with him.
Besides being treated to a filling meal in the cafeteria, residents were treated to a pep talk from motivational speaker and paralympic champion Mike Schlappi. The energetic Schlappi spun and zipped across the stage in his wheelchair recounting the accident as a young teen that put him on wheels.
With much humor and big smile, the now 39-year-old spun a tale of determination that lead him from a short bout of self pity to a life full of accomplishment.
“When I was kid they called me ‘happy Schlappi,’ now my five kids call me ‘pappy Schlappi’ and to my wife I am ‘crappy Schlappi,'” he said laughing.