Ruth Vallis is an extraordinary physiotherapist. "She's so happy and cheerful she makes pain fun," says one of her patients, "and being blind doesn't slow her down a bit."

I first met Ruth when she was 14. She had called into my radio program in response to the topic "If you're feeling really great today, chances are it's because of something you're doing. Give me a call and let me know what you're doing."

Ruth called to tell me about her morning spent on a bicycle-built-for-two. Her voice was filled with so much excitement, enthusiasm, and positive energy, I asked her parents if she could come down to the station to co-host the last hour of my show. She did … and we've been friends ever since.

I've watched Ruth graduate as class Valedictorian of her sighted high school. I cheered when she scored 92% on a geometry course, even though her teachers said a blind student really couldn't succeed in geometry, and I couldn't have been more pleased for her when I attended her college graduation party.

"Ruth's strength," says her mother, "lies in her determination and her sense of humour."

Blind from the age of three, Ruth developed her life-long passion for cycling when she was eight. That's when she asked for her first two-wheeler. Not surprisingly, her parents thought this was an inappropriate gift for a blind child but after dozens of persistent requests (some might call it nagging), they agreed to buy her a tricycle … as long as she promised not to go out on the street.

"It was one of the happiest days of my life when that present arrived," Ruth says now, "and it wasn't long before I was peddling round and round the block." But you'll remember that Ruth wanted a two-wheeler, not a tricycle, so guess what? The right rear wheel of her tricycle never, ever, touched the ground! Now that's determination … It's also pretty funny.

After high school, Ruth chose to study physiotherapy at a special school for the blind in London, England. One of her best stories from that period involves Prince Charles.

Selected as the Prince's partner in a cycling event, Ruth climbed into the rear saddle of their bicycle-built-for-two and took off flashing her now famous "Valis smile." It was an experience of a lifetime, and then, just as they crossed the finish line, Charles turned and whispered confidentially, "So tell me Ruth, how did it feel to have had your hands on the bum of the future King of England?" His sense of humour isn't all that bad either.

In the mid-80's, the Outpatient Department of the hospital where Ruth works was going to be closed because of a lack of funding. Accompanied by a colleague Ruth climbed back onto her bicycle-built-for-two and peddled over 300 miles. They raised $8,000 and enough public awareness to save the department.

Most recently, Ruth bought her own home. She lives alone, does all of her own cooking and cleaning, and her outside gardening as well. The last time I visited, she was out back raking leaves and cleaning the fountain. "I've always wanted a fountain" she said, "and now I've got one."

According to Ruth her most important accomplishments as a blind person was learning to recognize her limitations as well as her strengths … but when it comes to limitations, Ruth doesn't see very well at all.