Alexandra Houle is not your average 18-year-old.
Houle has spina bifida, a malformation in which the brain or spine fails to develop properly in the womb. She is confined to a wheelchair and life can sometimes be a struggle.
But Houle doesn't let her condition prevent her from participating in the sport she has come to love: karate.
"It's a challenge but it's a challenge that's worth working for," Houle said.
Houle does karate several times a week at Stronger for You Martial Arts in Barrhaven. The studio adopts its routines to incorporate wheelchair athletes.
Sensei Janet Heffernan said Houle is an inspiration for other students.
"When you see her giving it all she has, there's no excuses for anyone else."
