Athletes with Disabilities Network Northeast
Promoting a better quality of life for those with physical disabilities
This was an amazing ride with some pretty amazing people. All of us with a common goal of wanting to pay respect to those that have served. 230 miles from Union 9/11 memorial to Walter Reed Nationa…
Source: 230 Miler- Bicycle Ride to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
On July2nd, Northern and Southern New Jersey communities rallied and traveled to Citizens Bank Park to support Athletes with Disabilities Network Northeast Chapter Fundraiser. Atlantic county community member and police Officer Sgt. John Waddell assisted with organizing the fundraiser, BBQ and ticket sales to raise money for Athletes with Disabilities Network Northeast. AND-Northeast is a non-profit with the mission to promote a better quality of life for disabled veterans and people with physical disabilities by creating awareness and offering opportunities to get involved with athletic, recreational and educational activities locally and nationwide.
Groups in attendance were Toy’s for Kids Program, Spark-Suicide prevention & awareness resources for kids, Thrivent, Saint James Lutheran Church, Voorhees Amputee Stroke and Support group, Amputees in Action, Dylan’s RV, Sterling Brown from Tri-state Gamers, Alumi from PI at Kean University, Marlton Rehabilitation Hospital and Team River Runner staff. The BBQ provided the opportunity for community members to interact with disabled veterans and other disabled community members, like Brandon Holiday, a Team USA Paracanoe Kayak team member and the executive director of the Athletes with Disabilities Network’s Northeast Chapter. Other members from the organization where in attendance, injured combat veteran Josh Junk who is an instructor who can teach sight impaired and blind community members to kayak.
The non-profits programs, like their mentoring outreach assist disabled veterans and other community members and their family’s transition through traumatic life changing events like limb loss, spinal cord injury and more. Their mentors and adaptive sports programs help to show that life does not have to change with an injury and you can live a healthy active lifestyle even after losing a limb or suffering a serious injury. The Motto of the organization is “ There is no Replacement for the Competitive Spirit”
· Taken at Camden County BoathouseOn August 13th, 2016, Athletes with Disabilities Network organized and co-hosted it’s SportsAbility day with its Sports Coalition Members. SportsAbility Day is a day for disabled veterans, first responders, and those with physical disabilities and their friends and families to experience flat water kayaking on the Cooper River at the Camden County Boathouse, whitewater kayaking pool sessions, and swimming at the Salvation Army Kroc Center Camden, NJ.
In attendance were participants and families coming from the Philadelphia, NJ shore and Southern NJ areas. Participants ranged in disabilities from CP, MS, spinal cord to amputation and poly-trauma injuries, blind and sight impaired. The purpose of the day is to provide the opportunity for disabled community members to meets staff from different organizations that impact our disabled community members and their families in the area. These groups include Team River Runner Southeast PA, Challenged Athletes Foundation Operation Rebound, Camden County Freeholders and Boathouse, Philadelphia Center for Adaptive Sports and a diverse group of volunteers, from Sweat Fitness, Vorhees Amputee Stroke and Support Group, Disabled Fire Fighter Roger Miller, mentor athletes Amputee, Police officer Michael Braxton, USA National Paracanoe Sprint Kayak Member Brandon Holiday (Director of Athletes with Disabilities).
It was a hot fun day and we are looking to many more in the future.
Photo credits and thank you to Jim Riley, Tammy Bartlet,
Athletes with Disabilities Network Northeast 