Love on the rocks for Terry and Patti Hoddinott

LA PRAIRIE, Que. – Para climbers Patti and Terry Hoddinott train at least three times a week at the Junction Climbing Centre in London, Ont.

Patti refers to the outings as “date night”.

It is quite evident by their superb fitness level and the constant smiles on their faces that the couple is connected by a long time love of sport as well as to each other.

Terry, 61, was diagnosed with retinoblastoma as a youth and has been blind since age three. He works part time at Apple and owns a braille company.

He has dabbled in numerous sports over his lifetime, powerlifting being one of his favourites. But six years ago he was introduced to Para climbing and with the opportunity to team with his wife, it has become their passion.

“I was a gymnast, and I played soccer for three years. And I’ve always been a mountain biker, and I climbed as well,’’ said Patti, a dietitian at St. Joseph’s Health Care London, about her sports background. ‘’So this is a natural fit. We both love to be physically active, and we love to do things together.

‘’And there’s probably no better sport than this (rock climbing).”

In the blind category, each athlete has a caller, and for Terry it is Patti. In competition, they communicate through a two-way head set as Patti directs her husband from the ground up a jumbled series of steps on a straight 15-metre high wall.

Patti met Terry, her husband of 33 years, at a university party when she was 20. Never having met a blind person before, she was intrigued by the tall handsome stranger.

‘’I had no expectations of anything,” she said. ‘’Our marriage is just like any other with ups and downs and whatnot. But I think the biggest thing is just that we find a way to make things work. We’re just very much a team in every which way.’’

The couple has two children, now adults, who were both diagnosed with the same cancer as their father. It cost their son Riley an eye at age three while their daughter Kat’s cancer was caught and treated while in utero, the first baby in the world to be diagnosed with the disease before birth, according to Patti.

Both follow the healthy lifestyle instilled by their parents and lead successful lives.

‘’She has two good eyes now, and we’re very grateful for the healthcare in Canada,’’ added Patti about her daughter.

Para climbing was added to the Paralympic Games for LA 2028. Both Terry and Patti plan to intensify their training and take a crack at making the team.

They were on the 13-member Canadian team at the Para climbing World Cup last year in Salt Lake City.

In their quest they also hope to influence other visually impaired people to get into sport.

‘’Sport is the equalizer for visually impaired people,” said Terry. ‘’Because when you’re in a gym for example and weightlifting or practicing any sport, other people see you doing everyday things that they do, you just happen to do them a little differently.

‘’I think climbing is at a level playing field where you can compete and meet other people that won’t look at you differently.

“A big reason I love the sport is the community.’’