Ross "Rusty" Mackinnon |
|
|
Inspirational Quote: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”
Biography: I was born in Vancouver and was lucky enough to be raised in the beautiful Comox Valley. The Valley, as it is known, gave me the opportunity to live in a place surrounded by your typical small-town friendly people and an absolutely stunning landscape consisting of beautiful mountains, lakes, and forests. I grew up having two older and one younger brother, which constantly had me battling for everything in my life.. It was not unusual to see a fight of any kind, for any reason in the Mackinnon household. The Valley gave me the opportunity to play a variety of sports throughout my childhood. You name it I played it. I have often referred to myself as “the best of the average Joes”, as I never really excelled at one sport, but was able to play most at a ‘respectable’ level. I still claim to be the best athlete in my family, although 99.9% of people who know my family would disagree with me! After high school I decided to pursue a degree in Physical Education and thereafter a degree in Education. Having both my parents work as teachers growing up it was not a surprise that myself and two of my other brothers decided to become teachers. After I graduated from Vancouver Island University in 2012 I moved to China where I began my teaching career at a B.C Offshore School. I have been lucky enough to be surrounded by young, energetic teachers that have made my 3 years in China quite memorable! I look forward to my future years teaching abroad and continuing to have a positive impact on the lives of my students. Expectations of the Journey: I am extremely excited to be apart of the wehaultoplay team for this trip. After seeing what Paul has done on his last few rides, I have been inspired to help give back to communities that may be less fortunate. Being able to give young children the opportunity to play sports is something that I think can have an incredibly positive effect on their lives. I hold the Philippines close to my heart, as not only have a traveled there on numerous occasions, I also have family that live there. The people of the Philippines are truly the nicest, friendliest and most accommodating people in the world. I look forward to the experience that lies ahead! Most Memorable Journey: In the summer of 2012 myself and my three brothers cycled across Canada raising money and awareness for Parkinson’s disease. The Journey, needless to say, was extremely grueling, having both its ups and downs, but was definitely the most rewarding thing I have ever done. Bests assets you will bring to the journey: Not only will my singing voice keep the guys entertained throughout the days, but I hope to be a beacon of positivity during the tough stretches! 
|
