This video features Paralympic gold medallist Paul Rosen speaking at the 2012 Nova Scotia Peter Gzowski Invitational (PGI) Golf Tournament.

In an emotional and often funny speech, Rosen describes how he lagged behind his schoolmates in reading and writing, then spent much of his adult life covering up his lack of literacy skills. At 50, he enrolled in a class and was soon reading with confidence and enthusiasm.

The Paralympian, who had one leg amputated when he was 39, also offers a strong message about refusing to be defined by perceived limitations. He describes himself not as a disabled athlete, but rather as an athlete with a disability.

Established in 1986, the PGI Golf Tournament has evolved into a nation-wide annual event that has raised millions of dollars to support literacy initiatives.