Ryan Kesler

If you're an NHL fan, you might recognize this name. Ryan Kesler played in the National Hockey League for 15 seasons. He's certainly had his fair share of NHL highlights. And, as it turns out, he's quite a guy off the ice, too.
I had the pleasure of meeting Ryan Kesler in 2019 to help him recover from a hip injury. What I didn't know at the time was that getting to know him would actually help me recover from a recent hardship in my own life.
I was struggling with the loss of my own father and was having a hard time grieving. As a physical therapist, I've always been focused on helping others, putting their needs in front of my own. But, that day with Ryan allowed me to open up in a way I hadn't in a while.
It was truly refreshing to connect with him on a personal level. He didn't shy away from sharing his own vulnerability, which allowed me to do the same. We talked about the importance of mental health, the difficulties of professional sports, and the power of human connection.
During our time together, it was obvious that Ryan Kesler is a man who is passionate about giving back to others. He shared with me his vision for starting his own foundation, which would focus on providing support to those in need. I was incredibly inspired by his dedication to making a difference in the world and knew that I wanted to be a part of it in some way.
As I continued to work with Ryan, I saw firsthand how genuine his care for others was. He wasn't just giving back because he felt like he had to. He genuinely wanted to make a difference in the lives of those around him.
One of the things that struck me most about Ryan was his authenticity. He didn't try to be someone he wasn't. He was comfortable in his own skin and had a natural ability to connect with people on a personal level.
The following year, I started volunteering with the Ryan Kesler Foundation. I was excited to be a part of something that was making a difference in the community. Through the foundation, I've had the opportunity to meet other like-minded people who are passionate about giving back.
I'm grateful for the opportunity to have gotten to know Ryan Kesler, both professionally and personally. He's taught me the importance of giving back, being authentic, and never giving up on your dreams.