View Full Version : Any One That Went to The Recent National Veterans Wheelchair Games
Hello My Fellow Veterans,
I was wondering if any of you that were lucky & fortunate enough to have attended the National Veterans Wheelchair Games this past week in Spokane have anything to report. I feel so bad that I was not able to attend. I wanted to meet a lot of my Care Cure Fellow Veterans & my other fellow Veterans at the games. Those of you that went hope you won a lot of medals to take back home with you to show off to your town's residents & to your families. If any one has anything to post about the games I hope you will do so. I hope to be able to attend the games next year in Denver Colorado.
Bob S.
Oldsmar Florida
Air Force 8/71 to 5/75
SCI-Nurse
07-19-2009, 03:51 AM
Didn't get to go, but heard our team did pretty well. We sent two staff (we are short on therapy staff right now, so that is all we could spare)
There is a lot of information about the NVWG here:
http://www1.va.gov/vetevent/nvwg/2009/default.cfm
Next year: Denver!
(KLD)
We're just driving out of Spokane after seeing many events and meeting many cool folks! I'm totally motivated to go and play quad rugby!!
I also got to show my FreeWheel to everyone and try it both on the track and through the slalom couses. They deteremined that since I was floating over all the obstacles with such ease that the FreeWheel was illegal! Fun.
Pat
www.gofreewheel.com
We're just driving out of Spokane after seeing many events and meeting many cool folks! I'm totally motivated to go and play quad rugby!!
I also got to show my FreeWheel to everyone and try it both on the track and through the slalom couses. They deteremined that since I was floating over all the obstacles with such ease that the FreeWheel was illegal! Fun.
Pat
www.gofreewheel.com (http://www.gofreewheel.com)
Hey Pat,
Glad you go to go. Are you a Veteran or were you there as a vendor? I'm so disappointed that I didn't get to attend the games. I was suppose to meet up witht an old high school friend at his friends house that live in Spokane. We were going to have a barbeque there. Will you be at the games next year in Denver? I hope to go to the games next year & participate. I'm an Air Force Veteran. Hope to meet you there if we both make it to the games. Your Freewheel device looks cool to me. Hope you sell many of them.
Take Care !
Bob S.
Oldsmar, Florida
Hi Bob,
We went to show off my FreeWheel. I'm not a vet although my Dad was a Lt. Col. in the Air Force which makes me a Brat! Many Vets in Idaho encouraged me to show in Spokane.
We learned a couple things; 1. Everyone loved the FreeWheel! 2. If your VA PT prescribes a FreeWheel for you, the VA will buy it for you!
I hope to see you in Denver!
Pat
www.gofreewheel.com
Veteran Advisor
07-20-2009, 02:58 PM
Hi Bob,
We went to show off my FreeWheel. I'm not a vet although my Dad was a Lt. Col. in the Air Force which makes me a Brat! Many Vets in Idaho encouraged me to show in Spokane.
We learned a couple things; 1. Everyone loved the FreeWheel! 2. If your VA PT prescribes a FreeWheel for you, the VA will buy it for you!
I hope to see you in Denver!
Pat
www.gofreewheel.com (http://www.gofreewheel.com)
Pat,
Your Freewheel has definitely caught my attention. Any chance someone can come in and do an in-service/demo for our physical therapists in San Diego? I'd like to demo one myself before putting in a Prosthetics request.
We had great time in Spokane. Our son Tim played only rugby but he plans to do more sports next year in Denver. He made many new friends and he's looking forward to see them again next year.
SCI-Nurse
07-21-2009, 03:35 AM
Timo, I saw his picture in one of the NVWG daily newspapers. He looks great! Glad he had a good time at the Games. Isn't Quad Rugby exciting! I love to watch.
(KLD)
Vet Advisor, I sent you a PM. I would like you to try a FreeWheel and see what you think. I don't know how to proceed with a money back guarantee when someone else may pay for it.
Anyways, With a perch to hang your FreeWheel on the back of your chair, your FreeWheel becomes an everyday tool that saves energy, time and your body.
Let me know what you think.
Pat
www.gofreewheel.com
NWMom
07-24-2009, 06:16 PM
I wish that we made it over to the Veterans Wheelchair Games. My son isn't a veteran but my husband is. (uninjured, fortunately)
Timo, I am glad to hear that Tim was participating in the games. I hope that we'll see him playing quad rugby, sometime.
We have one of Pat's FreeWheels on order and can't wait for my son to try it out!
Bookjunky
07-26-2009, 04:09 AM
We had great time in Spokane. Our son Tim played only rugby but he plans to do more sports next year in Denver. He made many new friends and he's looking forward to see them again next year.
Which team did he play on?
Bookjunky
07-26-2009, 04:11 AM
Spokane was incredibly beautiful and the shuttle buses were running so smoothly the first day! And no hill like that nightmare in Omaha.:zombie:
Actually had the pleasure of meeting Pat the night of the block party. He had so much energy.
I just wanted say WELCOME HOME & A Job well done by my Fellow Veterans that were lucky enough to make it to the 29th National Veterans Wheelchair Games in Spokane Washington. I hope to join you all for the 30th annual games in Denver Colorado where I went to Tech School while I was in the Air Force.
Take Care !
Bob S
Oldsmar, Fl
Air Force 8/71 - 5/75
Tim was with team C...he was the youngest veteran for this year game.
Spokane is very beautiful, everything was very convenient. We had the opportunity to meet many veterans, their spouses and their caregivers. It was also a great way to learn from other.
Bookjunky
07-29-2009, 03:20 AM
The Red team? They had some seriously fast people.
Tim was #3, he was not the fast one. His classification was 1.0 at the game. He was in between 0.5 to 1.0. I think he did very well compare to two months ago while he practiced with his home team (Portland Pounders).
SCI_OTR
08-01-2009, 01:16 PM
Didn't get to go, but heard our team did pretty well. We sent two staff (we are short on therapy staff right now, so that is all we could spare)
There is a lot of information about the NVWG here:
http://www1.va.gov/vetevent/nvwg/2009/default.cfm
Next year: Denver!
(KLD)
I hate to brag KLD, but the team sent by Cleveland had more medals this year than any other team.
That got me thinking.
I prescribed most of our team's wheelchairs (the majority of their everyday chairs and some of their sports chairs (http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/showthread.php?t=112985)).
So, if they would have named it the...National Veteran's Wheelchair Games
instead of theNational Veterans Wheelchair Games
I could have taken credit for our success!
Of course, it is all about the veteran and their achievements, so I must congratulate them for another fine performance this year.
Here's a local story posted this morning...
Northeast Ohioans compete in National Veterans Wheelchair Games (http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/07/northeast_ohioans_compete_in_n.html)
SCI_OTR
08-01-2009, 01:35 PM
If your VA PT prescribes a FreeWheel for you, the VA will buy it for you!
What about if an OT prescribes it? Or do you think we are somehow less important?
Leaving OT's out of the picture would be almost as bad as, say, referring to PVA as VPA!
Marketing, Pat, Marketing!
Like I said, I wish the letters PVA were in a row on the keyboard so that engineers like me could get it right! LOL!
I wonder if anyone would know if there is a difference if someones" VA PT or OT fills out the propper form (VA Form 10-2641) , will the result be that the VA would in fact fund the FreeWheel for that individual Vet?
This question and more are what I'm working with the VA's office to answer. I'll keep you posted and wish for others to comment.
Pat
Ps pic of my son and myself STANDING! As the baclofen goes down, I go UP!
www.gofreewheel.com
SCI_OTR
08-01-2009, 09:59 PM
Like I said, I wish the letters PVA were in a row on the keyboard so that engineers like me could get it right! LOL!
I wonder if anyone would know if there is a difference if someones" VA PT or OT fills out the propper form (VA Form 10-2641) , will the result be that the VA would in fact fund the FreeWheel for that individual Vet?
This question and more are what I'm working with the VA's office to answer. I'll keep you posted and wish for others to comment.
Pat
Ps pic of my son and myself STANDING! As the baclofen goes down, I go UP!
www.gofreewheel.com (http://www.gofreewheel.com)
Arghhh! The dreaded 10-2641. That means it goes to Central Office for approval. Actually any PT, OT, or KT can fill out the form, but technically a provider, typically an SCI physician signs the form.
If his trial goes well, maybe Veteran Advisor can help eliminate the bureaucracy and help veterans obtain it directly through their local VA. I think the FreeWheel and the Zinger could potentially save the VA big bucks as they could reduce the number of powerchairs purchased by Prosthetics (and maybe save some shoulders in the process).
That's quite a charming young standing device you're using there.