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becoming a Paralympian I did some national public speaking and on one particular trip, I met my wife to be in Louisville, KY. Lastly, I traveled to Japan in 2007 where we climbed Mt. Fuji in record time on an off-road hand-cycle, but more importantly, acquired several very close friends during that life-changing experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life. So again, just doing something as simple as saying “yes” to being involved in wheelchair sports over 30 years ago has cascaded and evolved into so many more important things other than simply having fun with moving, striving to win and stay healthy. It has literally shaped every aspect of my life.
As one might imagine, one of the biggest pieces of advice I can give to a new injury is to get involved. If sports aren’t your thing or within your ability, no problem, you are in Arizona, the land where disabled folks flock to because of the accessibility and so many programs available. Also, listen to the old guys, it helps to get perspective in knowing how many prospects and opportunities are available through the years. Heck, I still do it; I’d like to see if I can go another 30 or 40 years. We are fortunate to live in Arizona where there are so many resources for folks with spinal cord injuries; seek them out. Protect your shoulders and other overly used body parts. Time, gravity and overuse can be ravaging, something hard to think about that when you are young, but take care of those joints that we use in ways the body was not supposed to move.
through, I began riding hand-cycles for recreation since that sport allows you to ride side by side with your able-bodied peers for long and fast rides, just like before your injury. Of course, I was driven to be successful in that sport and to be competitive. I decided I needed to live in a warm climate, so I moved across the country to Arizona in order to train year round. I also used graduate school as my “landing pad”, and earned my Master’s degree in Neurophysiology at the University of Arizona.
In order to still train AND hold a job, I had to start my own business, which I did and is still operational to this day (Arizona Lift and Care Specialists). Two final sport related subjects to mention is that after