Sun Shines on Tubing Event

Smiles shined brilliantly during a private, annual event at  on the bright, sunny and unseasonably warm afternoon earlier this month.

By chance, driving past Ski Ward upon first moving to Massachusetts over a decade ago, Cheryl Chan, of Auburn, decided to investigate snow tubing as a possible activity for her then 6-year-old son.

“Very quickly we realized that Nicky (who has autism) would not be able to follow all of the rules,” she said. “Things like, you must go down alone and wait your turn in line, carry your own tube, and stop yourself…” were not possible for him.

Proactive by nature, Chan, a public relations professional, contacted Ski Ward with a plan.

“If you will allow me to have a two-hour private group event, and allow us to help our kids in any way we need to, I think I can get a big group to come,” she explained to managers. “It will be an amazing opportunity for families who otherwise wouldn't be able to tube.”

The rest as they say is history.

“This was one of those 'if you build it, they will come' things, a labor of love,” Chan said. She and husband Alex have coordinated the annual tubing day for children with autism and other special needs for 11 years now, with this year's taking place on Feb. 18. “It's been pure joy for me.”

Chan knows the hardship of finding activities in which entire families can participate.

“We are faced with constant challenges every day—with an autism spectrum disorder,” she said. “People who do not walk this journey have no idea the impact that isolation can have on every family member.”

Though Nicky, who is thriving at his Boston area residential program, has not attended the tubing event in recent years, the elder Chans, along with daughter Isabelle, age 11, attend annually.

“My husband and I greet all of the participants and go right out there with them,” Chan said, leaving the level of participation up to parents and caregivers. “The important thing is that the child has a positive experience.”

Ever thankful to the business that opened its heart to this cause, Chan said, “They were so gracious, to this day I'm blown away by their generosity year after year.”

Five-year participant Damin Prince, 17, of North Grafton, loves the outdoors, and Ski Ward’s tubing day provides a winter activity to anticipate each year.

“The staff is very helpful and patient,” said Mary Prince, Damin’s mother. “There is no pressure to 'go with the flow' if your child is not comfortable...”

Special accommodations of the day (with the signing of a waiver) include free tubing for one parent or accompanying adult per disabled child and the suspension of many typical rules, such as negotiating the lift without assistance and one person per tube.

Donna Briand, of Whitinsville, always loves the opportunity to tube in tandem, “We all got in a cluster and went down the hill about six tubes at a time,” she said.

Enjoying the sunshine, Briand’s son James, 10, was reassured upon spying deep snow on the hillside.

“There’s still snow here at Ski Ward,” he said. Anticipating spring’s arrival, he added, “I sure will miss sledding.”

“To be given opportunities like the one we have at Ski Ward is a gift beyond words,” Chan said. “My dream would be for other businesses to offer up opportunities like this…I can guarantee the ever-growing autism community will respond with gratitude and commitment.”

As are many siblings of children with special needs, Isabelle Chan is sensitive and wise beyond her years. “Tubing is a great experience because, of course I get to have fun, and I get to help kids with autism,” she said. “It’s a great feeling inside.”

To learn more about this annual event, or to help coordinate other events like this for children with special needs, Cheryl Chan can be reached at seaurchan@yahoo.com.

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