Veterans Encouraged to Join the Paralympics
by admin on Aug.31, 2009, under Support Our Soldiers
Many of our veterans have been coming home wounded. Many have been critically injured, with their injuries being so severe that there is no longer any hope or chance of them living completely normal lives again. Many soldiers have undergone amputations, or violent loss of limbs, and others suffer from being paralyzed. The list goes on.
It’s not uncommon for these severe injuries to cause depression in the unfortunate recipient. They often feel useless, and dislike being dependant on others for basic needs. It can be a struggle to find things to be positive about.
Among other activites, one wonderful outlet has been the Paralympics. It can help motivate people and give them something to focus on. Previously, the attendance of the Paralympics has not included many military personnel, but there is hope of changing that scenario.
The Paralympics, held since 1988 at the same site as the Olympic Games, typically feature only a few veterans. The USOC wants to increase military participation, especially given the number of disabled young Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and the advances in prosthetic and other medical technology that make sports more accessible and comfortable for those with amputations or other disabling injuries. The Paralympics grew out of a competition in England in 1948 for injured World War II veterans.
“Disability sports improve so many things,” said Mitch Carr, RIC’s fitness, sports and recreation director. “It keeps weight under control and reduces secondary conditions that develop because of a sedentary lifestyle. Then there’s the social impact and improvement in self-confidence.”
The rest of the article has the stories of men and women who have received tremndous benefits from participating in the Paralympics.
