Upcoming Races
Shamrock Shuffle 5k
March 2022
Plattsburgh, NY
EDD Dream Big 5k
April 2022
Essex Junction, VT
Run 4 Wine 5k
May 2022
Chazy, NY
Freihofers Run 4 Women
June 2022
Albany, NY
Hi!
I'm Amber Morgan Desjardins
I want to inspire you to be your best self!
As a trans woman and multi-sport athlete with Cerebral Palsy living in Plattsburgh, NY, life hasn’t always been easy. However, by sharing my story, I hope to show that you, too, can overcome any obstacle in your way.
Let me share my story and tell you how I became the person you see today.
GROWING UP AS AN OUTSIDER
I loved sports as a child. I would spend hours watching sports on tv or at the local park, just studying how to play. It didn’t matter the sport; I just loved to watch people compete.
I was one of three children; my parents could only focus on keeping a roof over our heads and food on the table. Even though I had a deep love for sports, my family could not afford the right wheelchair or adaptive equipment.
Even if they could afford the equipment, there are no sports teams in the region for differently-abled athletes. It felt like the dream of being an athlete was not in the cards for me.
As I grew older, I found myself gaining weight and getting more and more depressed. It felt like I was only going through the motions to get through the day. I didn’t feel like I was genuinely living; I did not feel fulfilled, which is not the life I wanted for myself.
THE MOMENT THAT CHANGED MY LIFE
I knew at that moment that I wasn’t going to let my circumstances hold me back.
It does not matter that I am in a wheelchair;
It does not matter that I have cerebral palsy;
It does not matter that I am trans woman
I can be and AM an athlete.
NEVER LOOKING BACK
I adopted the athlete mindset and began to see a change in myself. The pounds dropped off. My mental health began to improve. I realized nothing could hold me back. I used all those years of watching sports to teach myself as an adult how to get involved. It was not long after that I started to participate at local 5k races, and not long after that that I saw some pretty impressive race results.
Through running and nordic skiing, I felt a growing sense of confidence. Through sports, I finally felt fulfilled that I saw how hard I could push myself and all the things my body is capable of accomplishing.
SHARING MY JOURNEY
Sports have done amazing things for me. They have shown me the potential that I possess. They have taught me that I’m a lot stronger mentally and physically than I thought. By sharing my journey, I hope to inspire people and show them that their past or life circumstances do not need to define them.
Please join me on my journey, and let’s empower each other to be the best versions of ourselves.
Past Race Results
Running Results
Support My Journey
Your donations help pay for wheelchair parts, repairs, travel expenses, and entry fees.
Meet My Sponsors
My sponsors have helped me reach my goals and beyond. I could not have made it this far without their support.
Full List of Sponsors
Liesa & The Masouda World Dance Ensemble
Honored by the
NYS Division Human Rights as a
TRANS COMMUNITY LEADER & DISABLED ATHLETE AND ACTIVIST
News interview for the story “Trans athletes from New England praise inclusive Summer Games.”
Blog post written on trans athletes being aloud to compete in their identity.
A blog post I wrote to share my running journey being a disabled athlete and a trans athlete
https://www.ncci-online.com/
A blog post I wrote about my running journey as a trans and disabled athlete
https://decolonizingfitness.
Video of me giving a speech at the rally.
Episode of Why Waite Innovate with Matthew Waite where I talk about my running and activism.
Amber talks with Breaking the Third Wall about being an athlete with Cerebral Palsy.
Press & Media
Here are a few articles from local, state, and regional publications. If you would like to feature me in your publication, please send me an email.
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