Challenged Sports Competitions and Clinics

Geremiah Gagnon, CTRS (shown in photo) was the 1st President of the West Virginia Therapeutic Recreation Association (WVTRA) in 1984.

He is employed at the Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) in Charleston, West Virginia.

Jeremiah is also the President of the W.Va. Challenged Athletes and Sports, which is a wonderful program.

Jeremiah presented on the Challenged Athletes and Sports program in W.Va., the current trends and how people can get their population involved on Nov. 2, 2010.

I [Danny Pettry] must say that I’m very impressed with this program and very pleased to see this in West Virginia. There have been many records set.

CAMC sponsors several statewide competitions of athletes of all ages with physical disabilities. They’ll even sponsor special events when there is a need for a school or groups by request. This is really wonderful, but I worry that some people may not be aware of these services.

This sports program is sanctioned by the U.S. Para-Olympic Committee and Wheelchair Sports of the USA. CAMC will even assist W.Va. athletes who meet qualifying standards for national competitions!

Jeremiah had mentioned that one magazine featured all the athletes (including athletes with disabilities) for the winter Olympics in Canada. I regret to say that I can’t remember which magazine. I did a quick google search, but was unable to find it.
Here is some of the information from the informative brochure about competitions that are sponsored by CAMC.
Here are several of their programs:
1. Track and Field Events. This began in 1995. It includes 40 meter and 60 meter races, 100 meter, 200 meter, 400 meter, 800 meter, 1,5000 meter, 5,000 meter, 10,000 meter and pentathlon races. There are also club, shot-put, discus and javelin events.

2. Shooting Competition. This event has been held in Nitro, W.Va. since 1997 and is joined with the National Rifle Association to provide competition for marksmen who have physical disabilities. It includes both air rifle and air pistol events.


3. Basketball League. There is a 7-week winter league at the Charleston, W.Va. community center for people with disabilities. My question is, why aren’t there more of these events throughout the state of West Virginia? There are people with disabilities who use wheelchairs in other parts of the state, too. I think we may need to educate the public about these opportunities and make sure that spaces are accessible.

4. Recreation Activities and Events: There are competitions in swimming, golf, tennis, and archery, too.

I thought the athletes in the photos were inspirational. Several of them are in excellent physical condition despite their disabilities.

Jeremiah said that someone made the comment that people with a disability had an advantage over the people who didn’t in some of the sport events. Jeremiah jokingly said, “that is when you know you’ve arrived.”

I’m very pleased to see these programs. None of us know when we may acquire a disability from daily activities. We may have a child born in our families who has a developmental disability. It is wonderful to know these services are being provided.

For more information contact:

CAMC Medical Rehabilitation Center
(304) 388-7608 or (304) 388-6062. Or email:
Jeremiah.gagnon@camc.org or Michael.dempsey@camc.org

Please contact them if you know of people in W.Va. who should know about these services. People in other states may want to contact them for information on starting programs in their own states.