The Pool is her Happy Place!

Meet Cheryl Gillespie

Cheryl Gillespie is a regular YMCA member since June, 2022. As a piano teacher and published author, Cheryl stays active in the Fredericton community despite her early childhood diagnosis of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis and associated blindness. “Living with arthritis means you don’t know how you’re going to feel when you wake up in the morning,” she relates, “or from hour to hour for that matter. You just accept it and learn to adapt the best way you know how.”
It was Cheryl’s sister, a Manager at the Y, Joan Gillespie, who encouraged her to take up swimming again. “I love to swim.” Cheryl says. “It’s low impact on my joints, I feel stronger and it has given me more energy overall.”

With Joan keeping a close eye on her sister, Cheryl follows along the wall for added guidance and security. Cheryl often notes how accommodating the other lap swimmers are, rearranging their patterns to maneuver around her. “They’re all pretty friendly, and seem to watch out for me as well.”

We extend a huge thank you to those lane swimmers who have made Cheryl feel welcomed as a fellow member of the Fredericton YMCA.