Bio: Lindsay Willms, 28, is a special education high school teacher in Vancouver. She truly is a volunteer for all seasons: in summer, she gives her time to kids with cancer at Camp Goodtimes, in Maple Ridge, B.C., and in winter she spends every weekend on the slopes helping children with disabilities enjoy snow sports at the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program. Willms is a Top 10 finalist in CBC and Outpost Magazine's Champions of Change contest. CBCNews.ca Your Voice asked her why she volunteers.

My story: In our busy and chaotic world, with the daily grind leaving us exhausted before sundown, it is no wonder "volunteering" seems like such an effort. But volunteering doesn't have to be something you should do after your long working day. Instead, it should be something you want to do, something that you can look forward to all day long.
I have been involved as a volunteer in many organizations that work to empower and inspire those who deal daily with illness and/or physical or mental disabilities. At Camp Goodtimes, the Canadian Cancer Society of British Columbia's non-profit pediatric oncology camp, an eager and enthusiastic team of volunteers works relentlessly through the summer to provide campers with a chance to be themselves, get dirty and have fun. It is a magical place -- and it is the people that make it so magical.

I have been lucky enough to be a part of the team since 2002. As a volunteer, the rewards are endless. These kids and their families have so much strength, maturity and poise. It is enough to inspire any adult to appreciate the joy of life that so many of us overlook in our daily lives. They have lived years beyond their years and every volunteer can learn from their wisdom. There are tears. There is loss. Reality exists. But most of the time it is merely a downright good time. I mean a really, really good time!

In the wintertime, I am involved in an organization called Whistler Adaptive Snow Sports. WASP is a non-profit organization that offers ski, snowboard and sit-ski lessons to children and adults living with mental, physical and developmental disabilities. It is not your average ski lesson. It is not every day that you get to witness the excitement on the face of a young girl with cerebral palsy racing down the mountain on a sit-ski screaming with joy. She may have not been out of her wheelchair in a long time, and definitely never thought she would be barrelling down a snow-covered pique. Volunteers are integral to the program -- highly trained and highly motivated, every person is there for the right reasons. I walk away each time, each lesson, with so much admiration of the ability of others to overcome such adversity and accomplish so much. Once I started with WASP that was it for me, I was hooked. I found strength in myself. I have been enlivened by the people I have been privileged enough to work with and I thank them for sharing their strength with me.

We also want to share your stories of volunteerism. Tell us what volunteer work you do and answer this question: "Why do you volunteer?" We may feature you on our website as well. Let us know in the comments below, email us at yournews@cbc.ca, or leave a message on Facebook or Twitter. You can vote for your favourite Champion of Change here.