Trenton, Visually Impaired Students Hit the Ice at Kennedy Recreation Center

Trenton High School hockey players and Interact Club members spent Tuesday morning helping visually impaired students experience the exhilaration of skating at the Kennedy Recreation Center.

Whether they were seated, standing or listening in from the sidelines visually impaired students from elementary, middle and high schools across Downriver felt the brisk air against their faces and cold, wet ice against their legs.

Some of the more talented skaters, such as Trenton senior Andrew Lindsay, seemed to skate faster pushing a chair than by himself.

Seated in the blisteringly-fast chair in front of Lindsay was fifth-grader Matthew, who said he was certain he was traveling at least 75 mph and would have been happier zipping across the ice at over 95 mph.

"It's great to do things for kids like Matt," Lindsay said. "It's the best feeling ever—helping out."

Trenton hockey coach Mike Turner said Trenton students began skating with visually impaired students more than 40 years ago.

"It's a tremendous way for kids to give back to the community," Turner said. "It's an opportunity to expose them to different kids with different abilities."

Angel McKibben said her daughter Mariah, 10, began skating with Trenton students when she was just 3 years old.

"They (the visually impaired students) look forward to it and talk about it all year long," McKibben said.

The Trenton Interact Club is a school-based extension of the Trenton Rotary Club.

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