"If I could choose one special power it'd always be strength," said the powerlifter. He sat down for an interview with the Trib at the local gym where he trains two-and-a-half hours a day, six days a week.

While his days of dreaming about being Superman may be long gone, Lapadat still describes himself as a kid at heart. That's why when he started powerlifting about a year ago, he decided to use his strength to help children.

" I wanted to use my marketing skills and my strength to do something special," said the Conestoga College marketing grad. Lapadat is currently working toward his bachelor of commerce degree at the University of Guelph and will graduate in 2010.

To date he's raised about $10,000 for the Hospital for Sick Children Foundation. He can lift a maximum of 400 lbs. and has towed a 25,000 lb. school bus on a couple of occasions to raise money for the charity.

Lapadat, the Canadian Drug-Free Powerlifting Association Middleweight Champion, recently competed in the world competition and placed fourth. "It was a lot more than I ever expected. I was just shooting for Top 10," said Lapadat.

The achievement definitely gives him some extra credentials when he's talking to school children about not giving up on their goals. He's pulled buses and talked to kids at Aberfoyle and Rickson Ridge schools.

"When you work with kids, they're so impressionable," he said. "If you tell them they can do something, they believe it."

At a cost of about $1,500 for chemotherapy treatments for a child, the funds raised by local kids for Lapadat's campaign have helped quite a few children.

He said what keeps him going – sometimes heading to the gym to train after a full day's work in housekeeping at Guelph General Hospital – is the commitment he's made to not only sick children, but the local kids he's talked to.

"It's the fear of failure," he said, admitting he said he would tow the school bus before he knew if he could do it.

"It had to be something big," he said of his choice to tow a school bus. "I wasn't going to just bring in a bench press, that wouldn't impress them. A school bus is something kids associate with. They ride it every day."

The 29-year-old found inspiration for that challenge through his young nephew. "We were driving back from a movie one day and I said, 'I think I’m going to tow a school bus, do you think I can do it?' and he said 'of course you can!'" Lapadat said. "Kids aren't skeptical."

He arranged with a local bus company to practice in an empty parking lot before the big day, when he pulled the school bus 15 metres in front of Aberfoyle school.

Lapadat, who said he inherited the nickname "6 Pack" from his older brother while going to high school at John F. Ross, said he's been a fan of working out since he was 14.

In January, he called a friend of his brother's named Alex Drolc who is the president of a local powerlifting group, Iron Foundation. Drolc and the group helped Lapadat get started.

In his training, he focuses strictly on lifting weights to build strength. The difference between regular weight lifting and powerlifting is that powerlifters lift much more weight, said Lapadat.

To replace all the energy he uses while lifting, Lapadat said he's been eating much more lately. "The grocery bills have definitely gone up," he said with a laugh.

Once the snow melts, Lapadat plans to take his campaign on the road, touring to London, Ont., Toronto and Hamilton. He'll pull buses there and speak to more kids. It's even been suggested that he upgrade to pulling airplanes, he said.

Lapadat is also a rapper and has his own album. "When I begin the campaign again I'll be giving away free 6 Pack CDs to any one who donates $10 or more," he said.

He's also appeared in a movie called Cell 213 that was recently filmed in Guelph. He had a non-speaking role as the leader of a skinhead group in the movie, which is slated to be released in fall 2009.

What is powerlifting?

Powerlifting is a sport focused on strength. It's made up of three events: the deadlift, squat and bench press. In competition, powerlifters have three chances to complete each event.

It's not only based on strength, but strategy, Lapadat explained. Whatever weight you use on your first attempt, you must use on the next two or increase it. It can't be decreased. If a competitor starts with too low a weight, he could complete his events but another competitor could win with a heavier weight. If a competitor starts with too high a weight, he could be setting himself up for defeat.

Lapadat holds the title of most drug-tested powerlifter in Canada. It’s a designation of which he's proud, especially since he tries to be a role model for kids.

During one speaking engagement, an eight-year-old asked him if he took performance enhancing drugs. "(Using performance enhancing drugs) is cheating,” said Lapadat. “It's a losers mentality – the easy way, the fast way."

Ryan Lapadat’s favourites . . .

Band or musician: 6 Pack!!!! Okay, Eminem

Drink: Protein shakes

Food: Pasta and lobster

Actor: 6 Pack!!! Okay, Denzel Washington. Runners up are Tom Hanks and Tom Cruise.

Actress: Kim Kardashian (Is she considered an actress? How about Vida Guerra?)

Movie: Rocky and Rocky 6

TV show: Family Guy

Sport aside from powerlifting: Submission wrestling, I got a slick arm bar.

It's a day off and you're doing nothing sports-related. What might you be up to? Aside from towing school buses and airplanes, I'd likely be hanging out with my girlfriend and/or friends.