WINDHAM, N.Y. – The Adaptive Sports Foundation (ASF) put five veterans to the test this week during its Warriors in Motion® (WIM) triathlon event, which included hiking, cycling and kayaking from July 8–10.
“This was such an awesome experience,” said retired Army veteran John Vacca. “To be out here in nature with my fellow veterans, enjoying these beautiful days, was a treat.”
The veterans arrived at the ASF’s Gwen Allard Adaptive Sports Center on Tuesday afternoon to meet and have lunch with ASF staff and the volunteers who would be assisting during the week. They were also fitted for any adaptive safety equipment and the bicycles they would be using the following day. Once everyone was situated, the ASF staff reviewed the details of the first sport on the agenda: hiking.
The WIM group boarded the ASF shuttle and traveled to West Kill to hike the Diamond Notch Trail. The trail, which was once a town road, featured rocky terrain and gradually ascended just over a mile to Diamond Notch Falls. The round-trip trek totaled just over two miles.
The warriors returned to Windham to check into their hotels and relax before reconvening at the ASF lodge for a catered dinner.
Wednesday’s activity was cycling, which was an all-day endeavor. The veterans were picked up at 9 a.m. and traveled east across the Hudson River to Copake Falls, where they began a 25.5-mile ride through Taconic State Park. The WIM group followed the scenic Harlem Valley Rail Trail south, passing picturesque countryside until reaching the village of Millerton in Dutchess County. After stopping for lunch at Four Brothers Pizza Inn, the group turned around and completed the second half of the ride back to Copake Falls. The veterans then returned to Windham to clean up and rest before gathering at the lodge for another catered dinner.
The final day of the event featured kayaking. The group met at the Gwen Allard Adaptive Sports Center at 9 a.m. on Thursday before heading to CD Lane Park in nearby Maplecrest. Once there, they unloaded their vessels, grabbed paddles and hit the lake. Floating on the quiet mountain lake offered a sense of serenity the veterans appreciated, while giving their legs a rest and providing a good upper-body workout.
The WIM group paddled for a couple of hours before returning to the ASF lodge for lunch, after which they went their separate ways.
“The ASF is a great organization. I’m glad I got to know the WIM program—I’ve been coming here for five years,” said retired Army veteran Saul Rojas. “This gives me pleasure to be here. I love the ASF and will continue to do what I can to provide support.”
The ASF’s next Warriors in Motion event will take place July 22–24 and will feature three days of mountain biking.
About the ASF’s Warriors in Motion Program
The Warriors in Motion program provides injured U.S. servicemen and women with a foundation in wellness and lifelong healthy living. All WIM programs are goal-oriented and empower participants to take charge of their fitness and wellness. For more information, visit www.adaptivesportsfoundation.org/military-program.
Through grants and private donations, the ASF provides participants with all necessary equipment, meals, lodging, water bottles, sunscreen, bug spray, ponchos, and printed and digital maps—at no cost to the veterans.
About the Adaptive Sports Foundation
For more than 40 years, the ASF has provided sports and recreational opportunities to thousands in the disabled community. Today, the organization offers year-round services at its slope-side lodge, the Gwen Allard Adaptive Sports Center—thanks to donors and a strong team of volunteers.
The Adaptive Sports Foundation is a nonprofit organization that offers life-changing experiences for children and adults with physical disabilities, cognitive disabilities, and chronic illnesses through outdoor activity, education, support and community. For more information, visit www.adaptivesportsfoundation.org.
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Source: Adaptive Sports Foundation