First and only paraplegic hot air balloon pilot uplifts
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1 Comment [ View ]By BETH YOUNG
Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau
KAYSVILLE -- It's no surprise that the main attention grabber Thursday morning at Kaysville Elementary was the fully inflated, rainbow-colored hot air balloon on the school grounds.
"Look at it," said sixth-grader Meaghan David, staring as the balloon took shape. "Oh, my gosh. That is so cool."
Although the balloon was a spectacle in itself, the fact that one of the three men setting up the balloon was in a wheelchair did not escape the students' attention.
"I think it's really cool that he can do this, being in a wheelchair," said another sixth-grader, Brooke Kraus.
Michael Glen, of Tucson, Ariz., is the first and only paraplegic hot air balloon pilot in the world.
He is also one of many balloon pilots who visited 10 local elementary schools this week.
The visits kick off the Antelope Island Balloon Stampede scheduled for today and Saturday. The event features 20 balloonists, food vendors and other live entertainment.
Glen's involvement with hot air ballooning is a family tradition. Both his father and brother have hot air balloons.
"My very first ride in a hot air balloon was when I was 2 weeks old, so I have been doing this my whole life," he said.
At 21, Glen was involved in a single-car rollover that broke his back. Despite losing the use of his legs, Glen still wanted to become a balloon pilot, but the Federal Aviation Administration denied him because of his disability.
"I wouldn't take no for an answer," Glen told the students.
"If you tell me I am not able to do something, I am going to prove you wrong. When the FAA denied me, I decided to go out and prove I could."
It took him 10 years and the support of family, friends and other balloonists, but Glen was finally granted his balloon pilot license in April 2006.
This is the part of his story Glen stresses when he talks to children.
"No matter what happens in your life, you can be anything you want," he said. "Set your goals as high as you can. I always wanted to be a balloon pilot. I am the only guy in the world in a wheel-chair who flies a hot air balloon."
Another part of his story that Glen wants children to remember is seat belt safety.
"The reason (I became paraplegic) is because I wasn't wearing my seat belt," he said.
Gasps from the crowd could be heard whenever the burner lit the large flame in the center of the balloon. Applause followed when it was fully inflated.
Glen said he enjoys showing students the balloon because of "the looks on their faces and the way they get so excited and amazed by it. To me, every time I do it, I turn into one of these kids."
Glen travels the Southwest as a motivational speaker, but visits schools free of charge.
"I hope (our students) can learn that, even though people have disabilities, they can overcome them and follow their dreams and accomplish just about anything they want to do," said Kaysville Elementary Principal Cleve Dibble.
"This is an opportunity for them to see something that is out of the ordinary and all the metaphorical things that could come with the idea of a balloon and visiting faraway places."
For more information about Glen, visit his Web site at www.rollingpilot.com.
Antelope Island Balloon Stampede
FRIDAY
Admission is $10 per carload, $4 per bicycle and $4 per senior. For more information, go to www.antelopeballoons.com. Reach Antelope Island State Park by taking Antelope Drive west through Syracuse to the entrance gate (Interstate 15, Exit 332).
* 5 p.m.: Balloon glow
* 6-9:30 p.m.: Entertainment
* 6 p.m.: Antelope Challenge begins, competition flight
* Evening: Tethered balloon flights, weather permitting
* Dusk: Balloon glow, weather permitting
SATURDAY
* 7 a.m.: Grand Ascension, weather permitting
* 7-9 a.m.: Flights for hire
* 8 a.m.: Concession and vendor booths open
* 9 a.m.-6 p.m.: Garr Ranch House, pioneer/ranch games, cowboy music and poetry
* 10 a.m.-5 p.m.: "Kids Corral," sand-art craft, birdfeeder creation, birdwatcher hat making, "prize" fishing booth and other activities
* 6 p.m.: Antelope Challenge, weather permitting
* 7:30-9 p.m.: Entertainment
* Dusk: Balloon glow, weather permitting
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