L.I.F.E. Rides the Rapids

Healing Waters guides help a group navigate the American River.

In August, nearly thirty friends of the L.I.F.E. Program, both old and new, went camping and rafting with Healing Waters on the South Fork of the American River. Participants found the trip to be fun, amazing, special, terrific, exciting, healing, and just a wee bit terrifying. For the fourth year in a row the Shanti L.I.F.E. Program teamed up with Healing Waters, an outdoor adventure nonprofit specifically for people with HIV/AIDS, to face the white waters of the American River.

Healing Waters provides an emotionally and physically safe environment in the outdoors for people to take a moment to celebrate living, community and challenge their own beliefs about their strengths and abilities. 29 people plus wonderful volunteers camped out, rode the rapids and told tales around the campfire. The river provided the perfect metaphor for life with HIV. Teamwork, friendship, caring, facing the unknown and the sense to reach out and help a friend when he’s in over his head all work on the river and in battling a chronic illness.

We’ll be hitting the river next year too. Our trip will be open to HIV+ Shanti clients of all abilities who aren’t afraid of getting a bit wet. Tents, sleeping bags and your equipment can be provided and no experience is necessary. So, if you or someone you know is interested in making new friends and facing challenges head on, please email John Olesen or call him at 415 674-4713.