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FirthsisterssupportadultliteracywithnewbiographyTuesdayApril14201515ARTSCULTUREBOOKSCRAZYSPRINGWHEELEVENT4FOR3IN-HOUSEWHEELSALEAPRIL1-312015.CALLSTOREFORDETAILS.TIRENORTHLTD.917MACKENZIEHWYSS22HAYRIVERNTX0E0R8CALLUSAT867874-2686ByDALICARMICHAELAnewbookdocumentingthelifeandtimesoftwooftheNWTstopathleticsiblingsissettolaunchthisweekshowcasingataleofadversityandhardworkwithanoptimisticifpainfulculmination.SharonFirthandthelateShirleyFirth-LarssonAklavik-borntwinsisterswhorosetopopularitythroughtheirprofessionalcross-countryskiingcareersarefeaturedinthelatestreleaseoftheNWTLiteracyCouncilsNorthernBiographiesseriesHardworkanddreamsSkiingaroundtheworld.OurstoryiswholeitsrealsaidFirthwhocherishesboththehighlightsandstrug-glesshehasfaced.Lifeisallaboutpracticingoverandoverandoveruntilyougetitandthenifyougetityoupracticemoresoyoucanbebetteratit.Itsnotonlyinsportsitsineverythingyoudoitsalwaysperfectingyourselfandchallengingyourself.Thebookpiecestogetherthepuzzleofthesisterslivesover75pagesstartingwiththeirexperienceslivingonthelandasdaughtersofatrappertotheirrsttimeslippingaroundinapairofskisthroughfourroundsoftheOlympicsandnallyastheyretirefromtheeldofprofessionalsports.ThesistersdecidedtodocumenttheirlivesattherequestoftheNWTLiteracyCouncilinthehopesthattheirstorymightinspireothersastheyfacetheirownchallengesinathleticsandinlife.ForthisreasonitwillbesentouttocommunitylearningcentresduringNWTAdultLearnersWeekwhichrunsfromApr.11to19.ItwasforadultliteracytohelptheadultswiththeirreadingandlearningFirthsaid.Whenyoucanreaditsagatewaytoabet-terfuture.IthoughtitwasahugethingthatShirleyandIweredoingtohelppeople.Encouragingeducationhasbeenatoppri-orityforFirthforyears.Asatouringrepre-sentativeofthedepartmentofMunicipalandCommunityAffairsFirthregularlytravelstheterritoryinspiringnewgenerationstoworkhardandsucceedattheirgoals.Italkaboutkidsnishingschoolandlearningasmuchastheypossiblycanwhiletheyreyoungshesaid.Thebrainisstilldevelopingandkidsneedtoputsomegoodthingsintoit.Theyneedtoplantheirfuturesbecauselifeisnotalwaysjustfunfunfunitrequiresworkanddevelopment.AfterenjoyingsupportfromfansintheNWTandbeyondovertheyearsFirthsaidtheduofeltitimportanttocontributewhattheycouldtosociety.Ivelearnedthatwhenyoureachacertainageinyourlifeitsallchalkeduptoexperi-enceFirthsaid.ShirleyandIwevebeenveryfortunatethatpeoplehavebeenfollow-ingus.Youcouldjustkeepallyourknowl-edgetoyourselfbutwhobenetsfromitTocompilethebookthecouncilconductedseparateinterviewswiththeOlympiansanecessityasFirth-Larssonwasgoingthroughcancertreatmentsduringitsproduction.IntheendshesuccumbedtothediseaseonApr.302013.ThebookwasultimatelydedicatedtoherasoneofthenalprojectsreleasedtothepubliconwhichtheFirthsisterswereabletocollaborate.ThatHardworkanddreamsisbeingof-ciallyreleasedduringDaffodilMonthatimededicatedtocancerfundraisingandaware-nesswasnotlostonFirth.Tothisdayshestillcontendswiththelossofhertwin.Imstillinmygrievingprocess.PeoplehaveaskedmetocomeandfundraisewellIcantevendothatImnotreadyforitshesaid.Imnotreadytogetoutthereandrunthosekilometresandgetallthemoneyforcancer.Imjustnotpreparedmentallyorphysically.FormethatsnotbeingselshIhavetotakecareofmymentalhealthandmywell-beingbeforeIcanhelpotherpeople.EvengoingthroughthepainfulexperienceoflosinghersisterhasprovidedFirthwithfodderforlessonstomotivateothers.Iwouldratherdosomethinglikereadthisnoveltopeopleandgetthemexcitedabouthealthyeatingorgettingintoadailyexerciseprogramjusttakingcareofyourappearanceandhowyouworkwithpeoplehowyoutreatpeopleshesaid.Iwanttomakeitaposi-tiveexperience.PhotocourtesyofDarrenHornPhotographyTheNWTLiteracyCouncilsnewestNorthernBiographiespublicationHardworkanddreamsSkiingaroundtheworldtellsthestoryofsistersShirleyFirth-LarssonleftandSharonFirthbothOlympiccross-countryskiersfromAklavik.