B.C. senior celebrates 80th birthday by in-line skating 350 kilometres in costume
While contemplating what to do for her upcoming birthday, Sonya Bardati knew what she didn’t want to be.
“I’m not going to be a rocking chair granny!” Sonya recalls saying.
So she stared considering her life thus far.
“I want to dwell on the good things.”
Instead of dwelling on the tears that were shed while growing up in an orphanage, she recalled the smiles that were inspired there, while performing on roller skates.
“We did a show (that included moves like) circles, airplanes, and the finale was the split,” Soya remembers. “It was very nice.”
So Sonya decided to don a pair of in-line skates for her 80th birthday.
“It feels fabulous,” Sonya says, while blading down the street. “You feel like you’re in a cloud.”
But this was just the beginning.
“When I decide to do something, I do it,” Sonya says.
Like how she decided to start working at 15, join the Royal Canadian Air Force at 18, and become the first woman to graduate from her university as a chartered industrial accountant, Sonya decided to embark on a skating road trip for her birthday.
She planned to blade from Port Hardy to Parksville on Vancouver Island over seven days — more than 350 kilometres.
“My motto is: I can do anything I want as long as I don’t hurt anyone,” Sonya says.
But what about hurting herself? What about her asthma? Or what about the osteoporosis that caused Sonya to break 10 bones over the past six years?
“I was scared,” she admits. “I’m made of glass.”
But Sonya faced her fear, and started training five days a week, because she said this journey was bigger than her.
Sonya wanted to give back to her adopted cat, Holly.
After her husband of more than 50 years died, Sonya says that Holly was a crucial comfort.
“She kept me from falling apart,” Sonya says.
So Sonya turned her journey into a fundraiser for the SPCA.
But she wasn’t done celebrating. Sonya also skated in a different costume every day, dressing up as a showgirl in fishnet stockings and a hippy with peace signs and a flower-blossom headband, among other things.
“I’m a nutcase!” Sonya laughs. “I love doing things that make people happy!"
And after completing her birthday goal, Sonya says she’s learned the best way to celebrate every day is bettering yourself, so you can better to others.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre will do 'anything to win,' must condemn Alex Jones endorsement: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ramping up his attacks on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as he promotes his government's federal budget.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
New evidence challenges the Pentagon's account of a horrific attack as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan: CNN exclusive
New video evidence uncovered by CNN significantly undermines two Pentagon investigations into an ISIS-K suicide attack outside Kabul airport, during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
Video shows suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
Pilot proposes to flight attendant girlfriend in front of passengers
A Polish pilot proposed to his flight attendant girlfriend during a flight from Warsaw to Krakow, and she said yes.
Ottawa injects another $36M into fund for those seriously injured or killed by vaccines
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Ex-SNC executive sentenced to prison term in bridge bribery case
The RCMP says a former SNC-Lavalin executive has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison in connection with a bribery scheme for a bridge repair contract in Montreal.