The 36th Annual National Veterans Wheelchair Games is about to kick off on Monday, June 27th through Saturday, July 2nd, 2016 in beautiful Salt Lake City, Utah. Hosted by the Salt Lake City Health Care System and Paralyzed Veterans of America, the entire week is filled with incredible events but what is more exciting is who is participating in the competitions. Hundreds of paralyzed veteran athletes will be traveling from all across the country (and even Great Britain) to partake in this national sporting event.
The National Veterans Wheelchair Games (NVWG) was started by a partnership with the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to get veterans more involved and active within their communities as well as benefit their mind, body and spirit. To compete, the veteran must be “U.S. military service veterans who use wheelchairs for sports competition due to spinal cord injuries, certain neurological conditions, amputations or other mobility impairments,” according the official rules of the NVWG.
This year there are 19 events in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games including 9-Ball, Air Guns, Archery, Basketball, Boccia, Bowling, Handcycling, Field Events, Motor Rally, Power Soccer, Quad Rugby, Slalom, Softball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Track, Trapshooting, Triathlon, and Weightlifting. Most of the events will be held at the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City and other local venues.
For the second year in a row, BLVD.com is excited to support the Minnesota Paralyzed Veterans of America during the National Veterans Wheelchair Games. As a Co-Sponsor of the MN PVA with LiveAbility (Minnesota’s Complete In Home Mobility Specialists), BLVD.com will be providing media and other support to the group.
This year there will be 20+ veteran athletes from Minnesota including Todd Kemery, the Vice President of the MN PVA. Mr. Kemery shared the following, “This will be my 15th Games and I still get those pre-travel/pre-games butterflies. I am looking forward to being in Salt Lake City with my teammates and am anxious about my performance in the events. There is great anticipation for the process or the life that this event takes on, all of those emotions rolled into one. I feel all of that with the same intensity as if it were my first experience as a novice back in 2001, headed for NYC. Good luck to everyone on the Minnesota Team and a huge thank you for our coaches and volunteers. None of this would be possible if it weren't for the long hours that they put in.”
Todd mentioned a very important part of the Games…the coaches. These individuals volunteer their time to assist the athletes with their equipment, help with transferring, and provide overall support throughout the competition. Each PVA group has a select number of coaches who are comprised of VA medical staff or are from other organizations. The Minnesota PVA has five coaches this year including Sue Miller, Mike Kahler, Fran Price, Daniel Cummings and Becky Wittig.
Becky Wittig is one of the coaches who as volunteered the most for the MN PVA. This will be her 13th year and she said, “It's been nice seeing the growth in Minnesota attendees over the years and I am extremely happy that we have six novice athletes heading to Salt Lake City this year.” When asked what was the most challenging aspect of being a coach she shared “that it is probably feeling like you should be at all the events supporting our athletes. It is impossible for one coach to be everywhere but between all the coaches I think we're able to manage that goal pretty well.” Becky also noted that being a coach has many rewards. “During the Games it's interesting to see our vets compete in their events. With novices there may be some initial trepidation that's quickly dismissed. You see so much determination; everyone wants to win. Yet there's so much camaraderie and genuine support between the competitors. All these athletes have at least one common bond. They served our country, they're vets. Bottom line, I truly feel blessed every year I'm able to attend. GO MINNESOTA!”
The 36th Annual National Veterans Wheelchair Games is sure to be another great display of competition, courage and camaraderie. Best of luck to all the athletes this year!
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To support the veterans and the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, click here to be directed to the contact at the local PVA office to make a tax deductible donation. 100% of the donation will go to fund the operations of the Games.
The Games are open and free to the public and are encouraged to come out to support the athletes during competition. For a list of events with times and locations, click here.
Keep up with all the events, updates, and exciting news with the National Veterans Wheelchair Games Facebook and use #NVWG to be a part of the conversation.
My professional background stems from non-profit marketing and fundraising for a large children’s cancer hospital. Every day I was able to make connections and relationships for kids and their families going through devastating times. From securing small donations to large corporate support, it was all about providing hope that one day doctors and researchers would find a cure. It was truly an honor to be a part of something so important.
Just this past year, I came to work alongside my family for BLVD.com, a website dedicated to offering the latest information and resources for people needing mobility products. This was a dream come true for me as I have always wanted to combine more time with my family while still helping others. Our family has been in the mobility industry for over 35 years with the goal of enhancing the quality of life for people with mobility issues. This is the spirit behind BLVD and what I am most excited about sharing in my blog.
I love meeting new people and have found that volunteering is the best way to learn more about others and myself. Coffee keeps me going as do walks my pup "Kirby" and most of all being with family and friends. I invite you to check out my blog to learn more about how "together we can move through life better!"
