amputees

Adaptive Hiking – Inspired by Nature

Date: March 8, 2017

Author: Brooke

Categories: adaptive sports, amputees, fitness, INSPIRATIONS BLOG

HIKE-meetup On March 25^th, Brooke Artesi, CPO/LPO and owner of Sunshine P&O, will lead an adaptive hike on the Beginner’s Loop of Pyramid Mountain in Montville NJ. Hiking is a challenging and rewarding sport for everyone – yes, EVERYONE! There are trails which are adaptive; they may have asphalt paths or boardwalks, low gradients, trained guides – check out these resources to find adaptive trails : Traillink.com, Americantrails.org, Wheel-life.org and be sure to RSVP for the Sunshine Adaptive Hike!

Why hike? It’s a glorious way to see the beauty of nature – lakes, rivers, wildlife, blooms and challenge yourself at the same time. As Jerry Dunn, Head Basketball Coach, put it,

“Don’t limit your challenges, challenge your limits”

Dan Nevins – Wounded Warrior, Yoga Teacher, Motivational Speaker

Date: November 14, 2016

Author: Brooke

Categories: adaptive sports, amputees, fitness, INSPIRATIONS BLOG, Support, yoga

Dan Nevins (Jim Campbell omlightphotography.com)

In 2004, during combat in Iraq, an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated beneath Dan Nevins’ vehicle. He lost both legs below the knee, and lives with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the emotional wounds of war. He also lives with determination, resiliency, a positive attitude and a passion for helping other wounded vets do the same through yoga.

“I just remember having this revelation that I’m alive, I’m alive! That I better do something to keep it that way.”

Reggie Showers – double amputee-double daredevil-double motivator

Date: November 4, 2016

Author: Brooke

Categories: adaptive sports, amputees, INSPIRATIONS BLOG, prosthetics, Uncategorized

Reggie Showers

As a youngster, Reggie Showers was always challenging himself – he loved climbing on the boxcars at a rail yard near his home in Philadelphia. At the age of 14, however, the power lines hanging above the box cars surged 13,000 volts of electricity through his young body. To save his life, the doctors had to graft skin onto his third degree burned arms and cut off both his legs below the knee. To Reggie, this was just another challenge.

“You would think a kid would just want to give up but … I never once shed a tear about it…There’s a reason why I’m here,” Showers said. “For all intents and purposes, I should be dead.” (espncdn.com)

Rebekah Marine – bionic model, inspirational speaker, humanitarian

Date: October 7, 2016

Author: Brooke

Categories: amputees, INSPIRATIONS BLOG, prosthetics

Rebekah Marine

Born without a right forearm, Rebekah Marine was an active child but when she entered high school, she found herself targeted by bullies. The 14-year-old Rebekah became insecure and withdrew from sports and social activities. She wore baggy sweaters and stood in an awkward way to avoid drawing attention to her missing limb. Today, 29 year old Rebekah is a model, inspirational speaker and humanitarian. She has defied all odds in the fashion industry and is one of the most recognizable models in the disabled community.

“I lived most of my life without a prosthetic hand,” Marine told SELF Magazine. “I used one in grade school for a short period of time, but gave up on it when it became too difficult to use. I didn’t use one again until my early 20’s when I started feeling pain in my left hand, most likely due to the overuse of it. I realized I needed to look into an alternative to help me as I grow older.”

More Paralympian Spirits to watch in Rio 2016

Date: August 29, 2016

Author: Brooke

Categories: adaptive sports, amputees, brace, fitness, INSPIRATIONS BLOG, paralympics, prosthetics, quadripalegic

Meet 3 more of our amazing, inspiring Paralympians – all heading to the Rio 2016 Paralympics!

JOE BERENYI – PARACYCLING

Paracyclist Joseph Berenyi

Joe Berenyi is a 47 year old track and road cyclist. He won gold, silver and bronze medals plus set a world record at the 2012 Paralympic Games held in London after only 3 years of national cycling experience.

In 1994 Joe lost his right arm and left kneecap in a construction accident and decided to put his bike away after several years of successful amateur cycling races. In 2007 he decided to join some of is neighbors for a ride and his love of cycling was reignited.