I’d like to introduce myself to you all. My name is Mycell Armington and I am the mother of 4 adult children and the grandmother of 2 toddlers. I have always been an extremely active person and concerned with maintaining good health in myself as well as my family and others. I happen to be totally blind but that hasn’t stopped me or prevented me from accomplishing many goals. I have been active in gymnastics, running, tandem cycling and horse back riding as a child and as an adult I continued these and added swimming and cross country skiing. I also have a almost 30 year career with the federal government and I don’t plan on quitting any time soon. My children are also active in sports activities. Two of my daughters have run several marathons and my third daughter played collegiate soccer. My son is a United States Marine and a long distance runner and pole vaulter. I am an active member of the Tallahassee counsel of the Blind and am the President of a small State affiliate of the Florida Counsel of the Blind called the Coalition for the Concerns of the Totally Blind. I write to you with many years of experience and knowledge to let you know that with out sharing our knowledge and experience we can not accomplish anything. I consider it an honor to be asked to join you all in the mutual goal to promote healthy living and healthy activities for those who are disabled.

My attitude and philosophy has continually been to promote ability as apposed to disability; therefore, three years ago I started the Tandem Ability Ride. A twenty-two mile tandem cycling event to promote awareness of those things that the general public may not realize that the disabled or blind population would be involved in or be able to accomplish. This event has gone from an awareness project to a fund raiser for the Tallahassee Counsel of the Blind under my coordination and leadership. I am proud to call this one my baby but have been willing to share with others the skills I have and am willing to teach.

It is the skills that I reference and experience of many years as well as, being a educator, public speaker, counselor and social worker that give me skills and abilities to be willing to help you all organize an event. I would love to help the foundation with an event to gain further funding. I believe that many visually impaired individuals are loosing good health and not finding motivation to lead healthy lives because of seemingly lack of interest by the so called sighted world. I don’t like to think of this world as being separated. We all just have our own expertise. With out a healthy body, mind, spirit and emotions; our systems are not balanced. Without this balance we become vulnerable to sickness and then others start making our decisions for us. May we always encourage wellness and good health and active lives so that the world does begin to understand.May we become ambassadors for all to see differently about ourselves and others.