OWASCO - Making it across the finish line at Great Race XXXII was a dual effort for Kevin and Heather Gleason, as the father and daughter rode tandem in the bike portion of the race.

Heather is legally blind, but the tandem bike makes participating difficult, but not impossible. With Kevin at the helm, Heather was able to finish the 20-mile ride in 1 hour, 12 minutes.

Heather started racing mountain bikes at age 6. When she rides her own bike, she stays behind Kevin as he talks her through the entire course.

“The longest race we have ever done was about 35 or 40 miles,” Kevin said. “The mountain biking is more difficult and more technical than when we race tandem, but she really enjoys it.”

What started with putting plastic berry baskets on her tricycle pedals to keep her feet in place, turned into Heather's father guiding her through treacherous mountain paths in a race to the finish. With the natural fears that any parent would have when their child participates in a bike race, Kevin said the worry is always there but it takes plenty of pre-planning to make it work.

“No matter what we know, we are going to fall at some point,” Kevin said. “Everybody does, sighted or not. Every child gets hurt when playing but we just work on the reaction when it happens.”

Practicing how to fall correctly and making sure she has all her protective gear in place, Kevin is always finding ways for his daughter to participate in any activity she chooses.

“She has always wanted to play sports,” Kevin said. “If she wants to do it, we will find a way.”

Saying that Heather has an interest in sports would be a slight understatement. Not only is she quick on the pedals, but she also enjoys figure skating, downhill skiing, swimming, kayaking, gymnastics and windsurfing. Kevin is even in the process of teaching her how to punt a football.

“I love to stay active,” Heather said. “I am always looking for ways to do things and do them independently. That is why I like biking. We have to work together but I can ride independently.”

Even on the hills, Kevin has found a way that Heather can enjoy herself in a safe way.

“We put on vests that say blind skier and guide,” Kevin said. “People give us room and I stay behind her giving her directions. She loves the speed of skiing downhill.”

“That is the best feeling,” Heather added. “I just can't get enough of skiing.”

When it comes to the windsurfing, Heather is not happy just sitting and enjoying the waves. Kevin said when they finished a day out windsurfing he knew that she would try and find a way to be independent about that as well.

“I was driving back and when I looked over at her I could tell she was thinking something,” Kevin said. “Then she said that it was awesome and wanted me to teach her to do the part of it that I do. Now we have to find a way to do that.”

Now in college, Heather plans to keep finding new things to accomplish. Majoring in human services, Heather prides herself on the fact that she can get to all of her classes alone and finally made it through her math class.

“Math with Braille is very difficult to do,” Kevin said. “Heather is doing very well at being independent and there are always people who will rally behind her. She is not the kind of girl to be held back at anything and we are very proud of her.”