"Everyone can offer something."
So says Chris Zonruiter, a legally blind man of 26 who recently earned the designation of assistant chief of administration at the Lone Butte Volunteer Fire Department.
Zonruiter's vision is impaired by a condition called ocular albinism, which is characterized by a lack of pigment in the eyes. He was born with it, and while his vision is far from normal, he has worked hard around obstacles to maintain as normal of a lifestyle as possible.
He joined the fire department in early 2009 after mulling over the idea for a few years. Zonruiter says he wasn't sure what benefit he could be, but after encouragement from the fire hall chief to attend practice and then successfully undergoing the standard training, he was excited to realize there was a place for him in the department.
"The only thing I definitely can't do is drive a truck," he says, adding he doesn't have the depth perception to work on the front line either, but he is comfortable manning pumps on the water support crew.
As he settled in, Zonruiter noted how burdened the department was with administration details, and being a student of an online business administration program, asked if he could somehow help to lighten the load.
He was handed essential, but time-consuming jobs, such as researching information and getting product price quotes. Before he knew it, Zonruiter was putting in several hours a week in his new role and he loved it.
The icing on the cake came at the end of May when he was made assistant chief of administration.
"I feel really good about it and, of course, I feel like I'm making important contributions. It comes down to no matter where you go in life; you should never let a disability hold you back.
“If you have an interest, there is a path, and you just have to find it."
There happens to be another extraordinary path Zonruiter is travelling and that is one of a triathlon athlete. In early 2011, when an opening became available on the Won with One triathlon team for the blind and visually impaired, he accepted an invitation to become a member.
"And then I had to learn how to swim. I could tread water but couldn't swim the length of a pool and certainly could not swim as a competitor."
With the support of his family, he was able to travel to Williams Lake weekly to swim at an indoor pool and it wasn't long before he was able to swim non-stop for 30 minutes. The rest of his training schedule included working out in a gym three times a week, riding a stationary bike and running on a treadmill.
In April 2011, he ran his first 10-kilometre road race, and the following month, he completed an eight-km event. It was real-life training for his first team Won with One triathlon, which took place in July 2011 in Ontario. As with all team members, he completed each leg of the three-event race with the help of a sighted guide. The race consisted of a five-km run, a 750-metre swim and a 20-km bike ride.
Zonruiter thinks it's amazing that in six months, he was able to progress from a non-swimmer to a competitive one, who with a guide by his side, covered the distance in a lake in a respectable time.
The cycling portion was completed on a tandem bike, with his guide in front, and for the run, he was tethered with a rope to his sighted running guide who ran by his side and steered him clear of potholes, tree roots and other hazards.
Finishing the race was exhilarating, he says.
"That was the best feeling. I felt like I could do anything and there's literally an adrenalin-rush high."
It's something he had never experienced, because while growing up, he hadn't had the chance to play team sports, such as soccer and basketball. Zonruiter says he feels like a whole new world has opened up for him since joining the triathlon team.
"It's boosted my confidence in everything in life. Even though the team is spread out over the country, we have a connection and support is always there.
“We have so much in common and have gone through the same things. There's always someone to offer advice and who you can figure out problems with."
Some of the 14 team members are Paralympians and one has run successfully in the Boston Marathon. All are inspiring, says Zonruiter.
None of his accomplishments have been easy to attain, and while much of the credit goes to his hard work and determination, he says nothing would have been possible without the steady support he's received from his community.
"I couldn't have done it alone. It means a lot."
