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Veterans Adaptive Sports is a non-profit charity organization that helps disabled veterans of all ages learn through instruction how to re-engage in sports and recreational activities. These sports/recreational activities consist of activities of which equipment has been developed or modified so the veteran can be accommodated and will allow them to participate. Currently our disabled veterans are paralyzed, visually impaired, and have various levels of upper- and lower-extremity amputations.
These veterans have participated in downhill and cross-country skiing, rock climbing, kayaking, water skiing, scuba diving, sailing, white water rafting, jet skiing, fishing and golfing. By far the most popular activity is skiing. Our veterans have been able to partake in two ski trips per year. Several veterans now have the skills and abilities to be considered experts. Our ski trips have been sponsored by Florida Ski Council and its chartered chapters for the past 10 years for which we are extremely grateful.
Gabe is from Jacksonville and is a participant in the Veterans Adaptive Sports program. Those of you who attended the FSC 2019 Spring conference enjoyed meeting Gabe at our Saturday evening event, along with his family and dog.
Gabe is a medically retired U.S. Navy Corpsman and fast-rising Paralympic archer. Gabe is also a proud father to an 11-year-old daughter and a three-year-old Cane Corso pup. After losing the use of his right arm in a motorcycle accident, Gabe became an adaptive athlete competing in para-archery, pickleball, sailing, cycling, and a few others. He is a firm believer that life is for living.
Now VETERANS ADAPTIVE SPORTS has two of our vets in the Paralympics: one in the summer games and one in the winter games. FSC charity donations help make this happen for them.