Not many people have the opportunity to celebrate their 97th birthday.

Fewer still get to do it the way Ruth Masters did.

Sunday was the local activist鈥檚 97th, and to celebrate, her goddaughter, Lorrainne Dixon, arranged for Andreas Ruttkiewicz, of Airspeed High in the Courtenay Airpark to take Ruth for a flight over the Comox Glacier in a two-person ultralite plane.

Ruth was born in St Joseph鈥檚 in Comox (in 1920) and has spent her life in the Valley, fighting for her beloved mountains and the environment.

Ruth has climbed the glacier several times, but knew she would never get to climb it again - hence the flight.

One of Ruth鈥檚 favourite expressions is 鈥渙ld age isn鈥檛 for sissies鈥� and these photos prove that Ruth is certainly no sissie- willing to try new adventures at 97.

Anyone interested in celebrating Ruth鈥檚 birthday is invited to make a donation to the fund set up at the North Island College in her name:

Ruth Masters 鈥淗ero Spoon Award鈥� through NIC (North Island College) Foundation.

It is necessary to state on your donation (cheque or credit card) add to the 鈥淩J Masters Hero Spoon Award鈥�. (You will receive a tax receipt from your donation issued by NIC Foundation).

In 2018 and in perpetuity, there will be adequate interest earned from the Hero Spoon Award account to allow the annual awarding of $500 to a student who is/will be attending North Island College.