Frew pe 3 Later, when it was up and running and saw how many oof the residents did nothing but stay in their beds he went to the home’s dirce tor and insisted that a basket ball court be buile. Tr was, eventually, and went on to eajole and bully the inmates into regular bas- ketbail practices with enough success tbat the team won bronze medals in’ the first tournament it entered. He has tever since quit in his attempts to get people motivated. “Lots of people disabled here,” he says tapping his tem- ple. Nik does not see himself as disabled. “After 40 years in a wheelchair,” he in “ITdon’t need feet.” He illustrates his point when asked if he bounces down steps in his chair. With a slight look of exasperation but absolutely no self-con- sciousness, he lifts, ewists and sits on the ground in one fluid motion before pantomiming drag- ging his chair behind him as he pushes up stairs on his rump. He then folds legs that look like limp noo- dles under himself'and vaults back into his chair. Nik has a wife, also a paraplegic, and four sons in Tehran. He hasn't seen them in five years and prays every day that they will be reunited soon. He is positive his children have benefited from having two disabled parents “For them, they are stronger than usual kids. They will become special people with stronger personalities.” Asked if he is a religious man, he taps his heart again and says, “God lives here for every- one.” Our interpreter, Mashid Yaraghi, a French teacher at Handsworth, has to leave but before she goes she tells Nik that the Iranian commu- nity is proud of him and loves him. She then emphasizes, “As a minority we always have to prove ourselves, We are always under a microscope. Nik is a great example for NEWS photo Cindy Goodman IF you use the weight room at the West Van Aquatic Centre you may have met Nik training for his marathon. When she goes, Nik bangs his wheelchair and carctully articulates, “I am one person for all countries. Not just [ran. Canada is tor every- body.” But words fai} him when he is asked how much his mother influenced his determination. So I go back to Milward's transcript and read: “It was painful, summertime, wintertime she had ta walk, take me to hospital here and there and all 1 remember is I had my head on my mom’s shoulder and looked at her footsteps while she was walking. “With the joy, with the sadness, with all the feeling that she had, I never forget those strong steps and the effort she put in. It was some kind of power she was getting. A kind of power from some source pushing her.” Next week in ‘Focus’ NEXT week in Sunday Focus reporter Deana Lancaster updates the state of treaty negotiations on the North Shore. To suggest a feature story that deserves to be “in Focus” write to Martin Millerchip, North Shore News, 1139 Lonsdale Ave., N. Vancouver, V7M 2H4 or fax 985-2104. vey aor phote submitted NIK Nikzaban has not seen his wife Firouzeh, also a paraplegic, and his four sons for five years. His oldest son is now 23 and studying to be an architect. Digital Camera for Kids $9998 SPECIAL OFFER SAVE ‘28 Are you a clone of your canine? Do you resemble Rover? Bring your pet, whatever they are, and enter the Pet Leok Alike Contest. Visit the Fido booth for details. See other pet related displays from 12-3pm including the obstacle course, doggy daycare, ‘ask the vet’, Noah's Pet Ark. 256 stores filled with whatever you're into. Taylor Way and Marine Drive. wwe. shopparkroyal.com.