Human Factor: A goal is a direction, not an end
In the Human Factor, we profile survivors who have overcome the odds. Confronting a life obstacle - injury, illness or other hardship - they tapped their inner strength and found resilience they didn't know they possessed. This week meet Kyle Maynard. Despite being born without arms or legs, Maynard has played football, wrestled, and he's hoping to hike Mount Kilimanjaro.
Since I opened the doors to No Excuses CrossFit, a small gym in an Atlanta suburb three years ago, I’ve come to learn that fitness instructors are closer in their roles to being a life coach or psychologist than someone solely focused on a workout regimen. The best trainers understand there is a massive amount of motivation required to start, let alone stick to, any plan.
One of the reasons we require so much motivation to start on the path to improving our health is that we build up a huge lie in our minds of how improbable or even impossible reaching our goals will be. We think about how hard it’s going to be to resist dessert or how much time exercising is going to take away from our lives. Then to make matters worse, we say things like “I have to lose 10 pounds in the next month.”
Have you ever thought about the bind that puts your mind in? Let’s say you succeed in that goal and lose the weight, now what do you do? Stop working out and go back to your old habits, eventually putting the weight back on? What happens if you don’t succeed - do you call yourself a failure?
Your goals should serve you, not work against you. They should provide you with a general direction and not be your end all be all.
I’ve coached people who lost several pants sizes, but because they didn’t reach their weight goal by a few pounds, they became so discouraged they quit. And I know of several more who reached their goal, but since they didn’t know where to go after that, a few weeks later they were back where they started.
If I choose to enjoy the ride and concern myself less with a specific outcome or goal, then I cannot fail. If my goal is to enjoy the path I’m on, whether that’s in my health or really any area of my life, then all I have to do is show up.
Several years ago I became very interested in mountaineering and around six months ago I set the goal to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa. Climbing Kili is a challenging goal for most people, and being a quadruple amputee without anyone to consult on how to pull this off doesn’t make it much easier.
Dating back to 2006, my first pair of hiking shoes were made from a pair of hotel towels that I tied to my arms using a rope I cut off the back of my wheelchair. The towels enabled me to crawl on all four limbs without cutting my arms open on the rock. And after obliterating a pair of blue jeans, I made it up to a peak that was somewhere around 1,500 feet high.
Kilimanjaro’s summit is a little bit higher... right at 19,340 feer. I never said I wasn’t one of the people thinking some of my goals might be improbable or even impossible at times.
Throughout the whole process there have been close to a dozen different attempts at adapting equipment and many of those resulted in painful failures. Each time we failed trying something new, we moved on to try something else. We’ve made small, incremental improvements over time and the whole process has been a rewarding challenge. Now we’re about two months away from our time on the mountain and we’ve finally gotten to a point where the gear is beginning to work.
It’s always going to be the same in your life too. We’ll never be where we want to be until we learn to slow down and enjoy our individual journey. As long as you are doing something to move towards the direction you want to go in your life and your health, you cannot fail.
If you’d like to learn more about my trip, please visit http://www.missionkilimanjaro.com
Overcoming Disabilties Team Room
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brotherjim
- 10k Poster
- Posts: 1241
- Joined: August 7th, 2009, 12:49 pm
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brotherjim
- 10k Poster
- Posts: 1241
- Joined: August 7th, 2009, 12:49 pm
Re: Overcoming Disabilties Team Room
11.09.2011
"It's like I finally have my life back..."
During his first tour in Iraq, Calvin herniated his spine. He volunteered to return to Iraq despite his injuries.
During his second tour in Iraq, Calvin reinjured his spine in an IED explosion.
While home recovering from back surgeries, Calvin was injured in a motorcycle accident.
After all of this Calvin struggled with balance, limited mobility and chronic pain.
In June 2009, Calvin's life changed when he received Canine Companions Service Dog Chesney. Chesney performs daily tasks for Calvin like picking up dropped items and opening doors.
"It's huge to be able to do things on my own again. It's like I finally have my life back from before my injuries," Calvin explains.
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brotherjim
- 10k Poster
- Posts: 1241
- Joined: August 7th, 2009, 12:49 pm
Re: Overcoming Disabilties Team Room
A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-
> old grandson.
> The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step
> faltered.
> The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky
> hands and
> failing sight made eating difficult.. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the
> floor.
> When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.
> The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess.
> 'We must do something about father,' said the son.
> 'I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the
> floor.'
> So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner.
> There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner.
> Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a
> wooden bowl.
> When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a
> tear in his eye as he sat alone.
> Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when
> he dropped a fork or spilled food.
> The four-year-old watched it all in silence.
> One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood
> scraps on the floor.
> He asked the child sweetly, 'What are you making?' Just as sweetly, the
> boy responded,
> 'Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I
> grow up. '
>
>
> The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.
> The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks.. Though no word was spoken, both knew
> what must be done.
> That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back
> to the family table.
> For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for
> some reason,
> neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was
> dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.
> On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it
> seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
> I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she
> handles four things:
> a rainy day,the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
> I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a
> 'life.'
> I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
> I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on
> both hands.You need to be able to throw something back sometimes.
> I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you.
> But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your
> work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.
> I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I
> usually make the right decision.
> I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.
> I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone.
> People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a
> friendly pat on the back.
> old grandson.
> The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step
> faltered.
> The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky
> hands and
> failing sight made eating difficult.. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the
> floor.
> When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.
> The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess.
> 'We must do something about father,' said the son.
> 'I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the
> floor.'
> So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner.
> There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner.
> Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a
> wooden bowl.
> When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a
> tear in his eye as he sat alone.
> Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when
> he dropped a fork or spilled food.
> The four-year-old watched it all in silence.
> One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood
> scraps on the floor.
> He asked the child sweetly, 'What are you making?' Just as sweetly, the
> boy responded,
> 'Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I
> grow up. '
>
>
> The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.
> The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks.. Though no word was spoken, both knew
> what must be done.
> That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back
> to the family table.
> For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for
> some reason,
> neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was
> dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.
> On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it
> seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
> I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she
> handles four things:
> a rainy day,the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
> I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a
> 'life.'
> I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
> I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on
> both hands.You need to be able to throw something back sometimes.
> I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you.
> But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your
> work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.
> I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I
> usually make the right decision.
> I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.
> I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone.
> People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a
> friendly pat on the back.
Re: Overcoming Disabilties Team Room
Very nice story Jim, I enjoy your sporadic posts.
Re: Overcoming Disabilties Team Room
By Kristin Bender
WeNews correspondent
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Disabled women lag behind their male counterparts in competing in sports events. But opportunities and recognition are gradually expanding and one Paralympic swimmer is training for 2008 in Beijing.
(WOMENSENEWS)--When people ask wheelchair racer Jean Driscoll, the eight-time champion of the Boston Marathon in the wheelchair division, about the obstacles faced by female athletes with disabilities, she talks about Sharon Hedrick.
In 1984, Hedrick, a wheelchair track competitor, won two gold medals in the inaugural wheelchair exhibition at the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. In doing so, Hedrick also broke the 800-meter women's wheelchair race record by almost three seconds.
"This wasn't the Paralympics," said Driscoll, referring to the competitions for elite athletes with physical disabilities. "This was the real Olympic Games. She was the first female wheelchair athlete to ever win a gold medal. Ever."
But it wasn't the record-breaking Hedrick whose picture made it onto the Wheaties cereal box, it was a man: wheelchair racing pioneer George Murray.
"Sharon broke the world record and she certainly didn't get the recognition like George did," said Driscoll, 39, who lives in Indianapolis and was named No. 25 of the top 100 female athletes of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated for Women at the turn of the century. "I don't want to take anything away from (Murray's) accomplishments. He was a stellar athlete during his time and deserved national and international recognition. It's just that Sharon did too."
Female athletes with disabilities still face a significant gap with disabled men and their able-bodied female counterparts. Women in the 2004 Summer Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece, represented less than one-third of the 3,806 participants, according to the recent data available from the International Paralympic Committee, based in Bonn, Germany. Women in the Olympic Games, by contrast, measured a much higher 44 percent of the 11,099 athletes, according to the Feminist Majority Foundation in Arlington, Va.
An estimated 43 million people in the United States and some 650 million people in the world have documented disabilities; it is the largest minority group on the planet and about half are women
WeNews correspondent
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Disabled women lag behind their male counterparts in competing in sports events. But opportunities and recognition are gradually expanding and one Paralympic swimmer is training for 2008 in Beijing.
(WOMENSENEWS)--When people ask wheelchair racer Jean Driscoll, the eight-time champion of the Boston Marathon in the wheelchair division, about the obstacles faced by female athletes with disabilities, she talks about Sharon Hedrick.
In 1984, Hedrick, a wheelchair track competitor, won two gold medals in the inaugural wheelchair exhibition at the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. In doing so, Hedrick also broke the 800-meter women's wheelchair race record by almost three seconds.
"This wasn't the Paralympics," said Driscoll, referring to the competitions for elite athletes with physical disabilities. "This was the real Olympic Games. She was the first female wheelchair athlete to ever win a gold medal. Ever."
But it wasn't the record-breaking Hedrick whose picture made it onto the Wheaties cereal box, it was a man: wheelchair racing pioneer George Murray.
"Sharon broke the world record and she certainly didn't get the recognition like George did," said Driscoll, 39, who lives in Indianapolis and was named No. 25 of the top 100 female athletes of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated for Women at the turn of the century. "I don't want to take anything away from (Murray's) accomplishments. He was a stellar athlete during his time and deserved national and international recognition. It's just that Sharon did too."
Female athletes with disabilities still face a significant gap with disabled men and their able-bodied female counterparts. Women in the 2004 Summer Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece, represented less than one-third of the 3,806 participants, according to the recent data available from the International Paralympic Committee, based in Bonn, Germany. Women in the Olympic Games, by contrast, measured a much higher 44 percent of the 11,099 athletes, according to the Feminist Majority Foundation in Arlington, Va.
An estimated 43 million people in the United States and some 650 million people in the world have documented disabilities; it is the largest minority group on the planet and about half are women
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AndrewAugenstein
- Paddler
- Posts: 26
- Joined: May 12th, 2006, 10:53 pm
- Location: Wooster Ohio
Re: Overcoming Disabilties Team Room
Deaf Bodybuilder Shelley Beattie (1967-2008)
A top female professional bodybuilder, Shelley Beattie once held the record for bench pressing at 315 pounds. Beattie was able to finish in the top three at both the Ms. International and Ms. Olympia contests, the two top bodybuilding events. After her bodybuilding career, she went on to become an actress and help crew an America’s Cup yacht before succumbing to a lifelong battle with bipolar disorder.
Beattie lost her hearing at the age of three due to an aspirin overdose, after which she felt excluded by her peers, who had to be facing her for her to communicate with them. They thought she had a cognitive disability, and to escape their rejection Beattie focused on sports, where she was naturally talented.
A track and field athlete, the teenager never competed in deaf sports but excelled at hurdling and sprints. She began weightlifting at age 14 because she wanted to compete against boys, since she was so much better than her female rivals. A hurt ankle led her to weight training and power lifting in college, where she earned a degree in Child Psychology and Special Education.
Beattie competed regularly from the late ‘80s through the early ‘90s, appearing twice on the cover of DeafLife magazine. At 5’7” tall, she weighed between 144-149 pounds for contests, and 155-160 pounds in the off season. Her most prestigious win was in 1992 when she finished 3rd in Ms. Olympia.
Quitting the grueling demands of bodybuilding didn’t mean Beattie was done with professional sports. In 1994-95 she was the grinder on the second-place America 3 America’s Cup yacht, doing the heavy spinning with her arms for every hoist, tack and jibe of the massive sails.
A natural beauty with an incredible physique, Beattie was perfect for the part of Siren in the American Gladiators TV show, which she starred in from 1992-96. Audiences, knowing she was deaf, waved their arms in the air or stomped their feet to communicate their approval for her performances.
A top female professional bodybuilder, Shelley Beattie once held the record for bench pressing at 315 pounds. Beattie was able to finish in the top three at both the Ms. International and Ms. Olympia contests, the two top bodybuilding events. After her bodybuilding career, she went on to become an actress and help crew an America’s Cup yacht before succumbing to a lifelong battle with bipolar disorder.
Beattie lost her hearing at the age of three due to an aspirin overdose, after which she felt excluded by her peers, who had to be facing her for her to communicate with them. They thought she had a cognitive disability, and to escape their rejection Beattie focused on sports, where she was naturally talented.
A track and field athlete, the teenager never competed in deaf sports but excelled at hurdling and sprints. She began weightlifting at age 14 because she wanted to compete against boys, since she was so much better than her female rivals. A hurt ankle led her to weight training and power lifting in college, where she earned a degree in Child Psychology and Special Education.
Beattie competed regularly from the late ‘80s through the early ‘90s, appearing twice on the cover of DeafLife magazine. At 5’7” tall, she weighed between 144-149 pounds for contests, and 155-160 pounds in the off season. Her most prestigious win was in 1992 when she finished 3rd in Ms. Olympia.
Quitting the grueling demands of bodybuilding didn’t mean Beattie was done with professional sports. In 1994-95 she was the grinder on the second-place America 3 America’s Cup yacht, doing the heavy spinning with her arms for every hoist, tack and jibe of the massive sails.
A natural beauty with an incredible physique, Beattie was perfect for the part of Siren in the American Gladiators TV show, which she starred in from 1992-96. Audiences, knowing she was deaf, waved their arms in the air or stomped their feet to communicate their approval for her performances.
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brotherjim
- 10k Poster
- Posts: 1241
- Joined: August 7th, 2009, 12:49 pm
Re: Overcoming Disabilties Team Room
RACE INFO
Row2Recovery
Boat: Sea Legs
Ed Janvrin, Alex Mackenzie, Will Dixon, Carl Anstey, Neil Heritage.
Row2Recovery is a group of British servicemen, some still serving, some retired. The team was the brainchild of three former commanders Alex Mackenzie, Tony Harris and Ed Janvrin. All three were profoundly moved by their experiences and felt compelled to help the fallen. Ex-captains Ed Janvrin and Alex Mackenzie and four injured servicemen will embark on the epic 3,000 mile voyage across the Atlantic.
The campaign will shine a spotlight on the extraordinary achievements of people with disabilities, and challenge misconceptions about what life is like for an injured solider and their family. It also aims to inspire others with life-altering injuries to realise their potential. From these experiences rose a profound desire to not only assist the fallen, but to inspire injured servicemen, and show them that extraordinary things are still possible.
All funds raised by Row2Recovery will be split between the following three charities; Help for Heroes, ABF The Soldiers Charity, and SSAFA.
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AndrewAugenstein
- Paddler
- Posts: 26
- Joined: May 12th, 2006, 10:53 pm
- Location: Wooster Ohio
Re: Overcoming Disabilties Team Room
United States ParaLympic Team Scott Brown
Home: Collingdale, Pennsylvania
Scott Brown, a six-time adaptive national team member, is one of the most decorated athletes in Paralympic rowing's brief international history. For Brown, who began rowing with the Philadelphia Rowing Program for the Disabled in 1989, the 2008 Paralympic Games may prove to be the final chapter of his career. Although Brown missed out on a medal in Beijing, his vision for the sport he loves will keep him involved in the years to come.
Brown says he would like to be able to further promote the sport of adaptive rowing through education and he is hoping to see the talent pool grow both in the U.S. and around the world.
Brown is married and works as a human resource specialist for the U.S. Department of Labor. He enjoys camping, sailing, and canoeing in exotic locations.
Major Achievements
•2008: U.S. Paralympic Team member, Rowing - Paralympic Games, Beijing, China
•2008: First place, adaptive double sculls - US Rowing National Championships
•2007: Fifth place, adaptive double skulls - FISA World Championships, Munich, Germany
•2006: Gold medal, adaptive double sculls - FISA World Championships, Eton, England
•2005: Gold medal, adaptive double sculls - FISA World Championships, Gifu, Japan
•2004: Gold medal, adaptive double sculls - FISA World Championships, Barcelona, Spain
•2004: First place, adaptive double sculls - US Rowing National Championships
•2003: Gold medal, adaptive double sculls - FISA World Championships, Milan, Italy
•2003: First place, adaptive double sculls - U.S. Rowing National Championships
•2003: Second place, double sculls - Bay 2 Bay Race (20 mile ocean race)
•2003: Philadelphia Rowing Society Heidere Award recipient (for most significant impact in the sport of rowing)
•2002: Gold medal, adaptive single sculls - FISA World Championships
•2002: First place, adaptive single sculls - U.S. Rowing National Championships
•2002: Third place, double sculls - Bay 2 Bay Race
•2001: First place, adaptive single sculls - U.S. Rowing National Championships
•2001: First place, adaptive double sculls - Catalina Crossing (32 mile ocean race)
Home: Collingdale, Pennsylvania
Scott Brown, a six-time adaptive national team member, is one of the most decorated athletes in Paralympic rowing's brief international history. For Brown, who began rowing with the Philadelphia Rowing Program for the Disabled in 1989, the 2008 Paralympic Games may prove to be the final chapter of his career. Although Brown missed out on a medal in Beijing, his vision for the sport he loves will keep him involved in the years to come.
Brown says he would like to be able to further promote the sport of adaptive rowing through education and he is hoping to see the talent pool grow both in the U.S. and around the world.
Brown is married and works as a human resource specialist for the U.S. Department of Labor. He enjoys camping, sailing, and canoeing in exotic locations.
Major Achievements
•2008: U.S. Paralympic Team member, Rowing - Paralympic Games, Beijing, China
•2008: First place, adaptive double sculls - US Rowing National Championships
•2007: Fifth place, adaptive double skulls - FISA World Championships, Munich, Germany
•2006: Gold medal, adaptive double sculls - FISA World Championships, Eton, England
•2005: Gold medal, adaptive double sculls - FISA World Championships, Gifu, Japan
•2004: Gold medal, adaptive double sculls - FISA World Championships, Barcelona, Spain
•2004: First place, adaptive double sculls - US Rowing National Championships
•2003: Gold medal, adaptive double sculls - FISA World Championships, Milan, Italy
•2003: First place, adaptive double sculls - U.S. Rowing National Championships
•2003: Second place, double sculls - Bay 2 Bay Race (20 mile ocean race)
•2003: Philadelphia Rowing Society Heidere Award recipient (for most significant impact in the sport of rowing)
•2002: Gold medal, adaptive single sculls - FISA World Championships
•2002: First place, adaptive single sculls - U.S. Rowing National Championships
•2002: Third place, double sculls - Bay 2 Bay Race
•2001: First place, adaptive single sculls - U.S. Rowing National Championships
•2001: First place, adaptive double sculls - Catalina Crossing (32 mile ocean race)
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AndrewAugenstein
- Paddler
- Posts: 26
- Joined: May 12th, 2006, 10:53 pm
- Location: Wooster Ohio
Re: Overcoming Disabilties Team Room
London 2012 Paralympics (266 Days To Go)
Rowing
Boats compete against each other over a 1000m course at the London 2012 Olympics with the winner the first to cross the finish line. The sport has come to be known as 'adaptive' rowing because the equipment used is altered so disabled athletes can take part, rather than the sport itself changing.
For example in the adaptive single scull seats have higher backs than seats in able-bodied boats and fixed into position to support the lower and upper back. Gloves are also available to help with limited hand function.
The sport is open to anyone with spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, lower-limb amputations and visual impairments.
The fastest two boats from each qualifying heat progress to the final. The remaining boats then compete in two repechage races for a second chance to reach the final.
Events
Men's single sculls, women's single sculls
Mixed coxed fours, mixed double sculls
Classes
LTA (legs, trunk and arms): Athletes who can use a sliding seat and their legs, trunks and arms.
TA (trunk and arms): Athletes who can fix their pelvis on the seat but are unable to use a sliding seat
A (arms only): Athletes with no trunk or leg function and row using only their arms
Gold medals available 4
Tactics and techniques
Athletes require different strengths and skills depending on the boat in which they compete. Those competing in the A class rely primarily on their arms, which need to be trained to endure high intensity competiton. Those in the LTA class will also need strong legs and cores.
The mixed events throw up many challenges for athletes due to differences in size and strength of pairs and quads. The role of the cox in boats with rowers who are visually impaired is of huge significance to ensure that timing - which is of huge importance to all rowers, but especially in team events - is kept
Rowing
Boats compete against each other over a 1000m course at the London 2012 Olympics with the winner the first to cross the finish line. The sport has come to be known as 'adaptive' rowing because the equipment used is altered so disabled athletes can take part, rather than the sport itself changing.
For example in the adaptive single scull seats have higher backs than seats in able-bodied boats and fixed into position to support the lower and upper back. Gloves are also available to help with limited hand function.
The sport is open to anyone with spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, lower-limb amputations and visual impairments.
The fastest two boats from each qualifying heat progress to the final. The remaining boats then compete in two repechage races for a second chance to reach the final.
Events
Men's single sculls, women's single sculls
Mixed coxed fours, mixed double sculls
Classes
LTA (legs, trunk and arms): Athletes who can use a sliding seat and their legs, trunks and arms.
TA (trunk and arms): Athletes who can fix their pelvis on the seat but are unable to use a sliding seat
A (arms only): Athletes with no trunk or leg function and row using only their arms
Gold medals available 4
Tactics and techniques
Athletes require different strengths and skills depending on the boat in which they compete. Those competing in the A class rely primarily on their arms, which need to be trained to endure high intensity competiton. Those in the LTA class will also need strong legs and cores.
The mixed events throw up many challenges for athletes due to differences in size and strength of pairs and quads. The role of the cox in boats with rowers who are visually impaired is of huge significance to ensure that timing - which is of huge importance to all rowers, but especially in team events - is kept
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brotherjim
- 10k Poster
- Posts: 1241
- Joined: August 7th, 2009, 12:49 pm
Re: Overcoming Disabilties Team Room
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — There's a quarterback Tim Tebow can't wait to meet while in Buffalo for a pivotal late-season game. A special guest showing up at his request.
And no, it's not former Bills star Jim Kelly.
Tebow is bringing in Jacob Rainey, a highly touted prep player from a private school in Virginia who had part of his right leg amputated after a severe knee injury during a fall scrimmage.
Tebow is looking forward to chatting with Rainey before and again after the Denver Broncos' game against the Bills on Saturday.
For as dedicated as Tebow is about improving on the field, he's just as devoted to his engagements off it.
That's why losses really don't linger. He's already turned the page after the Broncos' 41-23 home loss to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots on Sunday.
"I'll move on and continue to be positive and everything," Tebow said Tuesday.
As if he knows any other way.
Tebow doesn't mind all the attention. It gives him a platform for his causes, such as the Tim Tebow Foundation's "Wish 15" program. On Sunday, he brought in Kelly Faughnan, who is dealing with tumors and seizures.
"It gives her an opportunity to have a good time and gives her a little hope and puts a smile on her face," Tebow said. "Ultimately, that's what's important. As hard as it is to say it, that's more important than even winning or losing the game."
And no, it's not former Bills star Jim Kelly.
Tebow is bringing in Jacob Rainey, a highly touted prep player from a private school in Virginia who had part of his right leg amputated after a severe knee injury during a fall scrimmage.
Tebow is looking forward to chatting with Rainey before and again after the Denver Broncos' game against the Bills on Saturday.
For as dedicated as Tebow is about improving on the field, he's just as devoted to his engagements off it.
That's why losses really don't linger. He's already turned the page after the Broncos' 41-23 home loss to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots on Sunday.
"I'll move on and continue to be positive and everything," Tebow said Tuesday.
As if he knows any other way.
Tebow doesn't mind all the attention. It gives him a platform for his causes, such as the Tim Tebow Foundation's "Wish 15" program. On Sunday, he brought in Kelly Faughnan, who is dealing with tumors and seizures.
"It gives her an opportunity to have a good time and gives her a little hope and puts a smile on her face," Tebow said. "Ultimately, that's what's important. As hard as it is to say it, that's more important than even winning or losing the game."
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brotherjim
- 10k Poster
- Posts: 1241
- Joined: August 7th, 2009, 12:49 pm
Re: Overcoming Disabilties Team Room
CAF SPOTLIGHT: MEET MAJOR DAVID ROZELLE
Major David Rozelle is a below knee amputee who will be participating in the Columbia Muddy Buddy event in Orlando coming up on Saturday April 9th. He will be there representing our official charity, the Challenged Athletes Foundation, and Operation Rebound, CAF’s program that works with injured troops and first responders. Through your support of the Muddy Buddy Challenge on our website and Land Rover’s $1,000 commitment to CAF at each event, over $200,000 has been raised to help disabled athletes stay in the game of life through sport. We are honored to have Major Rozelle and a number of other injured troops joining us in the mud pit!
Columbia Muddy Buddy: Dave, when and where did you lose your leg?
Major David Rozelle: I was injured in the town of Hit, Iraq, on the 21st of June 2003. It was just a few months after we started conducting stability operations in Iraq and I was on my way to oversee a police academy that my unit established in the vacuum of power. I was leading the convoy and struck a landmine, which blew off the front of my vehicle and took my right foot.
CMB: When did you realize that you could actually go back to battle with a prosthetic?
DR: The first time a realized that returning to duty was a possibility was after I successfully completed the NYC marathon. It took nearly six hours, but I knew that I was going to make it.
CMB: How tough was it for you to go back to Iraq and did the prosthetic impact your effectiveness at all?
DR: It wasn’t as tough returning to war as you might think. It was really more about convincing myself that I wasn’t going to become a combat multiplier. When you command troops at war, the last thing you want to be worried about is your own well-being. I just made sure that I was physically and mentally ready for the hardship of war. Fortunately, I had been once before, so I knew what that really meant. My first return to war was a little hampered by my unusual limb length and poor prosthetic work, which resulted in an additional surgery to get a traditional below-the-knee amputation. With a standard limb length, I was then able to take advantage of some amazing technology, which really made a difference during my third tour during 2010.
CMB: You have done a number of the Columbia Muddy Buddy events. What do you enjoy about the experience?
DR: Muddy Buddy is a blast. The event itself is challenging, but anyone can do it. I have met all kinds of athletes at these events:
school-teachers, doctors, Moms escaping diaper duty, crazy college kids, and mid-life crisis exercise addicts to name a few. Everyone is there to have a good time. Running feels good, especially when you are dressed up as a super-hero!
CMB: This year in Orlando a number of your fellow Challenged Athletes Foundation athletes will also be participating at Muddy Buddy. Why is it important for challenged athletes to stay involved in sport?
DR: Sport is the best therapy. Swimming, biking and running are the basics of recovery. Add obstacles, and you have real life training. Muddy Buddy is especially good for recovering amputees as it forces you to get out of your comfort zone by climbing and crawling thru mud. It is the only race where I throw my shoes away at the end, and that is an unusual feeling for an amputee. The most important thing you learn as a challenged athlete is that no matter how bad you are sucking, you are still inspiring someone on the course.
CMB: What does CAF do for injured troops?
DR: CAF has been a dedicated program that allows injured troops to heal in a peer group of leaders. There is power in group healing and working with CAF, you’ll immediately find a peer and mentor that has a similar injury. In addition to that immediate bond, CAF encourages healthy living through sport and provides opportunities for recovering members to get the exercise they need, and grants for equipment that they need that may not be covered by the Veterans Administration. All that put together allows our newly injured to thrive!
Major David Rozelle is a below knee amputee who will be participating in the Columbia Muddy Buddy event in Orlando coming up on Saturday April 9th. He will be there representing our official charity, the Challenged Athletes Foundation, and Operation Rebound, CAF’s program that works with injured troops and first responders. Through your support of the Muddy Buddy Challenge on our website and Land Rover’s $1,000 commitment to CAF at each event, over $200,000 has been raised to help disabled athletes stay in the game of life through sport. We are honored to have Major Rozelle and a number of other injured troops joining us in the mud pit!
Columbia Muddy Buddy: Dave, when and where did you lose your leg?
Major David Rozelle: I was injured in the town of Hit, Iraq, on the 21st of June 2003. It was just a few months after we started conducting stability operations in Iraq and I was on my way to oversee a police academy that my unit established in the vacuum of power. I was leading the convoy and struck a landmine, which blew off the front of my vehicle and took my right foot.
CMB: When did you realize that you could actually go back to battle with a prosthetic?
DR: The first time a realized that returning to duty was a possibility was after I successfully completed the NYC marathon. It took nearly six hours, but I knew that I was going to make it.
CMB: How tough was it for you to go back to Iraq and did the prosthetic impact your effectiveness at all?
DR: It wasn’t as tough returning to war as you might think. It was really more about convincing myself that I wasn’t going to become a combat multiplier. When you command troops at war, the last thing you want to be worried about is your own well-being. I just made sure that I was physically and mentally ready for the hardship of war. Fortunately, I had been once before, so I knew what that really meant. My first return to war was a little hampered by my unusual limb length and poor prosthetic work, which resulted in an additional surgery to get a traditional below-the-knee amputation. With a standard limb length, I was then able to take advantage of some amazing technology, which really made a difference during my third tour during 2010.
CMB: You have done a number of the Columbia Muddy Buddy events. What do you enjoy about the experience?
DR: Muddy Buddy is a blast. The event itself is challenging, but anyone can do it. I have met all kinds of athletes at these events:
school-teachers, doctors, Moms escaping diaper duty, crazy college kids, and mid-life crisis exercise addicts to name a few. Everyone is there to have a good time. Running feels good, especially when you are dressed up as a super-hero!
CMB: This year in Orlando a number of your fellow Challenged Athletes Foundation athletes will also be participating at Muddy Buddy. Why is it important for challenged athletes to stay involved in sport?
DR: Sport is the best therapy. Swimming, biking and running are the basics of recovery. Add obstacles, and you have real life training. Muddy Buddy is especially good for recovering amputees as it forces you to get out of your comfort zone by climbing and crawling thru mud. It is the only race where I throw my shoes away at the end, and that is an unusual feeling for an amputee. The most important thing you learn as a challenged athlete is that no matter how bad you are sucking, you are still inspiring someone on the course.
CMB: What does CAF do for injured troops?
DR: CAF has been a dedicated program that allows injured troops to heal in a peer group of leaders. There is power in group healing and working with CAF, you’ll immediately find a peer and mentor that has a similar injury. In addition to that immediate bond, CAF encourages healthy living through sport and provides opportunities for recovering members to get the exercise they need, and grants for equipment that they need that may not be covered by the Veterans Administration. All that put together allows our newly injured to thrive!
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brotherjim
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Re: Overcoming Disabilties Team Room
Welcome to the challenge team Jonathan, so happy to have you with us. You sent me an email but there wasn't a way to send one back so I thought I would answer you on the forum. The O.D. challenge team is different than the affiliation team. All members are cuurent and they want to row in the challenges for Overcoming Disabilities team. They stay on the affiliation team Luna-Tics because of the fun things and daily stats they do.
At first when I started the team I thought I could keep stats too, but because of some of my challenges, I couldn't handle it well. So just about all members joined the year round affiliation team Luna-Tics and enjoy that team so much. But they like to rowq the challenges as the team Overcoming Disabilities. Hope that helps and again, so glad you have joined us. Sorry if I rambled or repeated myself.
At first when I started the team I thought I could keep stats too, but because of some of my challenges, I couldn't handle it well. So just about all members joined the year round affiliation team Luna-Tics and enjoy that team so much. But they like to rowq the challenges as the team Overcoming Disabilities. Hope that helps and again, so glad you have joined us. Sorry if I rambled or repeated myself.
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brotherjim
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- Joined: August 7th, 2009, 12:49 pm
Re: Overcoming Disabilties Team Room
Just read an article that Cheetah the Chimp from the Tarzan ( Johnny Weissmuller) movies passed away Saturday at age 80. He brought many a laugh and smile to me when I watched these films repeatedly. Don't know how many times as a "younger " man I would wish I was like Tarzan and had a buddy like Cheetah. I think 2 weeks ago was the last time.
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brotherjim
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- Joined: August 7th, 2009, 12:49 pm
Re: Overcoming Disabilties Team Room
Blind Woman Enters Coast to Coast
A Woman who lost 70 percent of her sight 11 years ago will compete in February's Coast to Coast to prove that people with disabilities can do anything if they have support.
In 2000, Neelusha Memon suffered a horrific brain injury and simultaneously lapsed into a coma for four months. This came after she contracted a rare autoimmune illness. Following rehabilitation, most of her faculties returned apart from most of her sight and balance.
"I now live with these disabilities but I don't see them as limiting factors. The major problem I face is how others treat me because of my disabilities," she says.
"That's why I'm doing the Coast to Coast. I want to prove that people with disabilities can do anything they want if given support. Most non-disabled people would never attempt the Coast to Coast, so I'm going to show that even someone without sight can do it if they want to."
Neelusha, 27 and based in Christchurch, is not new to multisport. She has already climbed Mount Aspiring.
"My major hurdle there was not my sight, but people's belief that I would fail because of my sight," Neelusha says.
Just as her campaign suggests, Neelusha will have a support team to help her achieve her aim. For the cycle leg, she will ride on a tandem cycle with a support team member. She will also complete the kayak leg in a two-seater with a team member. On the run, another supporter will direct her.
She not only needs her team for the race, but also for training. This has taken some planning.
"I've chosen multisport to demonstrate how people with disabilities can do anything with support, but the major aim of my campaign is to change attitudes in society to people like me," she says.
"With support people with disabilities are just like anyone else. I hope my Coast to Coast adventure will show this and people will start treating me and others just like non-disabled people. That's all we want."
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brotherjim
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Re: Overcoming Disabilties Team Room
NEW YORK (AP) — All year long Eric LeGrand inspired Rutgers from his wheelchair.
How could the Scarlet Knights ever slack off when their former teammate stayed so positive, was so sure he could overcome a devastating spinal injury and one day walk again?
After Rutgers completed its season with a 27-13 victory over Iowa State in the Pinstripe Bowl on Friday, it was time for the Scarlet Knights to thank LeGrand.
"Hey Big E! Hey Big E!" coach Greg Schiano shouted into the microphone as he stood at midfield at Yankee Stadium with the bowl trophy and pointed toward the press box. "This one's for you buddy."
LeGrand, paralyzed after making a tackle during a game last season, was shown on the huge video scoreboard while Schiano spoke — busting out a wide grin.
"My heart kind of jumped because I wasn't expecting it," LeGrand told the AP in a phone interview.
He then went to the locker room and celebrated his friends. He said he even did a little shoulder dancing.
"That's our brother before and after the injury, and that's how we're going to treat him forever," Rutgers linebacker Khaseem Greene said. "Just having his presence around, it's amazing. He makes the locker room glow."
How could the Scarlet Knights ever slack off when their former teammate stayed so positive, was so sure he could overcome a devastating spinal injury and one day walk again?
After Rutgers completed its season with a 27-13 victory over Iowa State in the Pinstripe Bowl on Friday, it was time for the Scarlet Knights to thank LeGrand.
"Hey Big E! Hey Big E!" coach Greg Schiano shouted into the microphone as he stood at midfield at Yankee Stadium with the bowl trophy and pointed toward the press box. "This one's for you buddy."
LeGrand, paralyzed after making a tackle during a game last season, was shown on the huge video scoreboard while Schiano spoke — busting out a wide grin.
"My heart kind of jumped because I wasn't expecting it," LeGrand told the AP in a phone interview.
He then went to the locker room and celebrated his friends. He said he even did a little shoulder dancing.
"That's our brother before and after the injury, and that's how we're going to treat him forever," Rutgers linebacker Khaseem Greene said. "Just having his presence around, it's amazing. He makes the locker room glow."