A 13-year journey from wheelchair to walking a 10K race

When Rylan Laplante steps up to walk the 10-kilometre event as part of the Calgary Marathon weekend on May 24, it will mean more than just a race for him — it will mark the beginning of whole new chapter for the UCalgary student. 

Nearly 13 years ago, Laplante’s life changed when a rare medical condition meant he would require a wheelchair for mobility, with some of his doctors telling him he would never walk again. 

Now, the third-year dual computer science and finance major is rewriting his story. 

“This past fall, with the help of a great team of physicians, I was able to start walking again. Last year, I wheeled the full marathon. This year, after four months of rehabilitation, I’m ready to walk the 10K event,” he says. 

Laplante’s motivation behind the walk is twofold; “Long-term, I want to build my endurance, build my strength, and eventually run an actual marathon,” he says. “I also want to bring awareness to the Alberta Children’s Hospital, where I spent most of my teenage life.”

The power of a strong support network

Laplante spent several years at the Vi Riddell Pain and Rehabilitation Centre at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, where surgeries and rehab became part of his everyday life. But it wasn’t just the medical care that moved him forward — it was the dedication, the hard work, and the steady presence of people who believed in him. 

“I’ve gotten a lot of no’s in my life. Some doctors told me that I have to make peace with where I’m at and the cards I’ve been dealt. That’s why I want to give back to the Alberta Children’s Hospital. They were so critical to my medical journey.  Dr. Peter Farran, MD, Dr. David E. Manning, MD, and Dr. Adrian Gretton, MD, in particular; they didn’t give me a yes, but they didn’t give me a no either. They just told me, ‘We’re willing to roll the dice with you. If you want to put the work in, we’ll support you along the way.’ Along with my friends and family, that type of support is invaluable.” 

In tandem with the 10K, Laplante is raising funds to support the Vi Riddell Children’s Pain &  Rehabilitation Centre. 

“The Alberta Children’s Hospital does amazing work, helping so many children and their families as well,” he says. “I want to give back.” The fundraiser, which will remain open until June 30, currently has a goal of $30,000, but with the steady traction he’s seen, Laplante is hopeful he can surpass that. 

For Laplante, every challenge has demanded growth and faith — and he believes the two often go hand in hand.

“You have to keep pushing forward, even when you don’t want to. There are a lot of mornings where my body really doesn’t want to get out of bed at 6 a.m.,” he says. “But meeting those goals helps you build confidence in yourself. It makes you realize that the work you’re doing is paying off. If you put your mind to it, you can achieve it.”

Setbacks, he emphasizes, are part of the process. 

“Coming out of high school, I had a surgical procedure that was supposed to get me walking in nine months. I had severe complications during that surgery, which set me back by nearly four years,” he says. 

“Sometimes you have goals, but they don’t go as planned. Sometimes, they completely unravel. But there’s always a way forward.” 

Embarking on an entrepreneurial journey at UCalgary

For Laplante, life is unfolding in exciting new directions as he prepares for his final year at the University of Calgary and gears up to take on his next big challenge.

“I have a lot of entrepreneurial aspirations. My first step is to get through some of my medical journey. After, I’m excited to turn my attention toward entrepreneurship.”

A key partner in this journey is the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking. As an engineering teaching assistant, Laplante was first exposed to the Hunter Hub back in 2023 through its flagship program, Launchpad. 

Launchpad is a six-month co-curricular program designed to help participants become changemakers in their respective fields. 

“I’ve seen a lot of students grow from that program. It really shows you how to monetize an idea and bring it to fruition,” he says. In the fall, Laplante will join Launchpad, where he hopes to find a team, cultivate an idea he’s been germinating, and ultimately, launch his project in 2026. 

Entrepreneurship appeals to Laplante on multiple levels. 

“As a computer science major, you’re often searching for a definitive answer. But with entrepreneurship, there is no set formula. You have to go out there and figure it out knowing that your formula will change over time, especially as you take different variables into account. I really enjoy that aspect.”

Laplante’s love of problem-solving runs deep. As a child on long car rides, his dad would point to semi-trucks and their logos, challenging Laplante with makeshift case studies. “It was fun and really engaging,” he recalls with a smile.

Crossing the finish line and setting new ones

With the 10K walk fast approaching, Laplante is excited to complete an important milestone in his journey.  

“This is a goal I’ve set for myself,” he says. “Achieving it will mean I always get to look back and remember that I can do this. That I crossed that finish line, and that I can set a new one to reach.”