Park City High School senior Cole Rohner has endured 13 brain surgeries, three double eye surgeries and seven orthopedic surgeries. He has hemiplegia — a form of unilateral cerebral palsy where one side of the body has reduced capabilities. But, “It doesn’t have me.”
The proof is in the four gold medals the 17 year old has won in national adaptive ice skating competitions. He also dances, plays baseball and is a member of the Park City Mountaineers Special Olympics team.
“My mother was a competitive ice skater and she put me and my siblings on the ice when we were 2,” he said. “I really enjoy learning choreographed routines, which is also why I really love dancing.”
Cole’s mother, Lexi Rohner, said, “All three of the children ended up being competitive athletes. Each one is fierce!” Cole is part of a set of triplets.
He has also been an ambassador for the past eight years, attending countless social functions and fundraisers for Shriners Children’s Hospital, the pediatric orthopedic and neuromuscular-care facility that has served patients for 100 years.
“It’s amazing! I get to go to different events and explain how Shriners gives such phenomenal care to different people regardless of their abilities,” he said.
It was mostly just social in the beginning, Lexi said. But Cole showed promise as a speaker and eventually became an event speaker for Shriners.
“Cole is one of our go-to speakers because he is so comfortable in front of people,” Raegan Holbrook, director of marketing and communications for Shriners Children’s Salt Lake City.
His mother laughed.
“He has never met an audience he didn’t love,” she said.
So far this year, Cole has taken on numerous video interviews, photo shoots and speaking engagements. He said he was the featured speaker at Shriners’ main philanthropic fundraiser and at the 100-year gala event.
“And then the chairman of the board personally requested him for the annual fundraising golf tournament, which happened in September,” Lexi added.
Cole will also be a guest speaker at the Art with Heart fundraising dance concert for the Shriners in Salt Lake City on Nov. 8.
“Three dance studios come together to help raise funds for Shriners. Currently, they have raised over $1 million for the nonprofit,” Lexi said.
One of these studios, Neuroworx, is where Cole dances. There will be two recitals that day, with an estimated audience of around 400 people.
Cole also plans to support Shriners at their annual Halloween parade on Friday.
“The parade has turned into one of our most popular events,” said Holbrook. “Many years ago, we created the Halloween Wheelchair Costume Clinic, where we transform our patients’ wheelchairs into larger-than-life costumes. Halloween can be a tough time for kids in wheelchairs, so this is a great way for the kiddos to show off their costumes and embrace the holiday.”
Events like these have helped the nonprofit remain in Salt Lake City for 100 years and hope patient ambassadors like Cole will help continue that momentum.
“Cole’s willingness to share his story helps us to raise money so we can keep providing amazing care to our patients, whether or not a family can afford the care,” Holbrook said.
Cole added that he and his family are grateful for Shriners.
“Because of fundraisers like these, kids like me are able to receive the care they need,” he said.
For more about Cole’s adventures and accomplishments, follow him at instagram.com/coleadaptivesk8.