2023 MitoScholars Empowering youth living with mitochondrial disease to focus on their futures

Ryleigh Hill | Halifax, Nova Scotia | BA Fine Arts (4th year) | Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD)

Meet Ryleigh Hill, one of our amazing 2023 MitoScholars+! Ryleigh is entering the final year of her Fine Arts program.

Two of Ryleigh’s siblings have a rare form of mitochondrial disease called Complex 1 deficiency, so Ryleigh has grown up immersed in the MitoCommunity.

“Growing up with two sisters with mito has taught me the incredible value of being kind, patient, and accommodating to the people around me,” she says. “Mitochondrial disease has touched every part of my life, and its impact is immeasurable.”

Ryleigh has a deep passion for the arts and hopes to be an art teacher one day. “This decision was inspired by my siblings,” she says. “I chose teaching because I never wanted anyone to feel so defeated as my sisters did whenever someone told them they couldn’t do something.

Ryleigh thanks MitoCanada and the mito community, “it truly is a dream come true to be selected as a winner of this incredible award. Thanks to your generosity, I can continue to flourish in my educational career.”

We’re so proud to support Ryleigh in her educational pursuits. The world needs more future teachers like these!