Disabled Veterans Compete in VA Summer Sports Clinic on San Diego Bay

Thursday, 24 September 2009
Contact: Barbara Moreno (619) 686-6216

For the second year in a row, the National Veterans’ Affairs Summer Sports Clinic has come to San Diego Bay – changing the lives of our nation’s wounded veterans. Sixty-four men and women are participating in the event from September 20 to September 25. The participants come to San Diego from across the country.

“The goal of the National Summer Sports Clinic is to heal the whole person – body, spirit and mind through these adaptive programs – that’s what you get here. That’s the true mission of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs,” said Richard Olague, Public Affairs Coordinator.

The veterans participate in several sporting activities including surfing at La Jolla Shores, kayaking at Mission Bay, and field sports at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista. Two events are hosted on Port tidelands: cycling at Embarcadero Marina Park North and sailing. Port tenant San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina serves as the host hotel and marina for the sailing venue. The sailboats were donated by Port tenant, Challenged America.

Among the sailing participants was former Navy cryptographer Benjamin Brown from Kentucky. He was left paralyzed following a motorcycle accident.

“I’ve been injured for 7 years. I was always trying to find something to plug into and the Summer Sports Clinic, it’s phenomenal,” Brown said. “The things you’re opened up to and you realize you can actually do – no matter your ability level. It’s very rewarding.”

Urban Miyares, co-founder of Challenged America on Shelter Island, was instrumental in bringing the event to San Diego. His non-profit, all-volunteer organization has been recognized as a pioneer in the field of free adaptive sailing opportunities to kids and adults with disabilities.

“I had been part of the VA Winter Sports Clinic which is in Colorado each year. In the early 1990’s I said, ‘Why don’t you do a summer sports clinic? After all, we have sailing with Challenged America,’” said Miyares.

He worked with VA national coordinator Sandy Trombetta to make the dream come true in 2008. The first event had 50 participants. This year, 64 signed up.

“People don’t realize the value of sailing.  It’s more than a recreational sport. For vets who have come back from the traumas of war, with Post Traumatic Stress, there’s nothing like sailing. When you’re in a sailboat, you forget about everything else,” Miyares said.

Kevin Miller was poisoned while in Afghanistan which left him with nerve damage in 75 percent of his body. He suffers short-term and long-term memory loss. But the inspiration he gets from the games is beyond words.

"There's people out here with no legs, no arms and prosthetics. If they can do it, anybody can," Miller said.

At least 75 Challenged America volunteers help out for the week. Ken Guyer, Marina Manager at the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina, also a Vietnam Vet, hosts the sailing venue.

“You can’t describe watching these people as they go through these evolutions,” said Guyer. “They’re a little nervous at first, then they go out, and the smile you see when they come back, it’s very much worth it. As a vet myself, this is just absolutely unreal.”

“We’re excited to find out that the summer clinic is going to be here for at least the next five years. So that’s a great boost for San Diego,” Miyares said.

Participation in the clinic is open to military veterans who are eligible for VA medical care and who have orthopedic amputations, traumatic brain injuries, burn injuries, psychological trauma, certain neurological conditions, visual impairment, spinal cord injuries and other injuries incurred in the last six years. Contact your local VA office for information on signing up for next year's events.

“The Department of Veterans’ Affairs thanks the Port of San Diego tenants for the use of the wonderful harbor and the warm welcome from all of the business and the community,” said Olague.

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