Max
06-26-2002, 10:30 AM
Henderson in eighth Wheelchair Games
http://www.news-press.com/sports/today/020625bowler.html
By DAVE KEMPTON, Special to The News-Press
Making the statement that injuries and accidents fail to deter paraplegic Melvin Henderson would be a giant understatement.
GETTING READY: Melvin Henderson, 42, of Fort Myers watches his ball roll toward the pins during practice Monday at Galaxy Lanes in Fort Myers. He is preparing for his eighth trip to the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, from July 8-13 in Cleveland. (TODD STUBING/news-press.com)
Click on image to enlarge.
The 42-year-old Fort Myers resident will compete in his eighth National Veterans Wheelchair Games from July 8-13, fresh from nearly another life-threatening accident that has further limited his athletic skills.
Henderson just flashes a big smile, forgetting even the most recent near-catastrophe, and stays focused on his version of the Olympic Games.
"God woke me up this morning and told me to be happy," he said, sitting in the same electric wheelchair he has used for the past 16 years.
"There are a lot of people in worse shape than me."
Henderson, as is his custom prior to the games, the 22nd version of which will be in Cleveland, is looking for donations to help cover expenses. He has raised $1,800 of the $3,500 for the trip with a promise to win more medals. WANT TO HELP?
What: National Veterans Wheelchair Games
When: July 8-13 in Cleveland
Donations for Melvin Henderson: (239) 334-4924, 357-4272 or 6226 Demery Circle, Fort Myers, FL 33916
The games are open to U.S. veterans who use wheelchairs because of spinal cord injury, amputations or other mobility impairments. The annual event, with includes archery, basketball, bowling, road racing, power soccer, rugby, slalom racing, swimming, table tennis, trapshooting, track and weightlifting, is the largest wheelchair meet in the country, with over 750 entries.
Henderson participated in his first games in 1993, and has brought home a total of 19 medals, including five gold, five silver and nine bronze.
"I try and get all of Southwest Florida behind me while showing other disabled people they can do it too," said Henderson, who gets most of his donations from individuals giving $10 and $20.
Henderson's near-fatal accident occurred Friday the 13th in February 1987, when the 1973 Pontiac LeMans he was a back-seat passenger in sailed off a hilly road to avoid an oncoming car in the Florida Panhandle.
"It was like the car was flying off a cliff, finally landing in a gully and bursting into flames," Henderson said. He broke his neck in three places, his back in two and his right shoulder blade in four.
Because he spent seven years in the Army, Henderson was eligible for treatment at a Veterans Administration hospital. He learned to live without the use of his legs and full use of his right arm. He taught himself how to use his left hand.
"Even today, I try and communicate to anyone, don't ever quit," said Henderson, who does 50 push-ups every morning and evening. "God gives you the mind to do it, you just have to do it."
Then last Jan. 28, near his Metro Parkway home, he was in his wheelchair waiting to cross the street when a truck hit and ran over him.
"The accident really hurt my upper body bad, limiting what use I had of my hands at the time, and in turn hurt my training," Henderson said.
He will compete in bowling, motorized slalom, a rally race and the powerchair 220 race in Cleveland. He won a gold medal in the motorized wheelchair slalom last summer in New York.
"You have to go over bumps, around obstacles and through rough terrain for about five minutes," he said.
"I love the opportunity of being an athlete and watching another 700-plus guys compete. Some are in better shape, some worse, but we're all trying."
Henderson uses his relationship with his three children to motivate himself.
"You can't live if you sit around all day, and that's what I try to show them," Henderson said. Wayne Henderson, 25, is stationed with the Marine Corps. in Korea, while Qyebtibm, 23, just finished a tour of duty with the Marines. Daughter LaToya, 19, is in the Air Force.
Henderson casts aside the thought that he is special because of his condition.
"We are just athletes, like the regular Olympic participants, except we can't run or jump," Henderson said.
Copyright 2002, The News-Press.
http://www.news-press.com/sports/today/020625bowler.html
By DAVE KEMPTON, Special to The News-Press
Making the statement that injuries and accidents fail to deter paraplegic Melvin Henderson would be a giant understatement.
GETTING READY: Melvin Henderson, 42, of Fort Myers watches his ball roll toward the pins during practice Monday at Galaxy Lanes in Fort Myers. He is preparing for his eighth trip to the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, from July 8-13 in Cleveland. (TODD STUBING/news-press.com)
Click on image to enlarge.
The 42-year-old Fort Myers resident will compete in his eighth National Veterans Wheelchair Games from July 8-13, fresh from nearly another life-threatening accident that has further limited his athletic skills.
Henderson just flashes a big smile, forgetting even the most recent near-catastrophe, and stays focused on his version of the Olympic Games.
"God woke me up this morning and told me to be happy," he said, sitting in the same electric wheelchair he has used for the past 16 years.
"There are a lot of people in worse shape than me."
Henderson, as is his custom prior to the games, the 22nd version of which will be in Cleveland, is looking for donations to help cover expenses. He has raised $1,800 of the $3,500 for the trip with a promise to win more medals. WANT TO HELP?
What: National Veterans Wheelchair Games
When: July 8-13 in Cleveland
Donations for Melvin Henderson: (239) 334-4924, 357-4272 or 6226 Demery Circle, Fort Myers, FL 33916
The games are open to U.S. veterans who use wheelchairs because of spinal cord injury, amputations or other mobility impairments. The annual event, with includes archery, basketball, bowling, road racing, power soccer, rugby, slalom racing, swimming, table tennis, trapshooting, track and weightlifting, is the largest wheelchair meet in the country, with over 750 entries.
Henderson participated in his first games in 1993, and has brought home a total of 19 medals, including five gold, five silver and nine bronze.
"I try and get all of Southwest Florida behind me while showing other disabled people they can do it too," said Henderson, who gets most of his donations from individuals giving $10 and $20.
Henderson's near-fatal accident occurred Friday the 13th in February 1987, when the 1973 Pontiac LeMans he was a back-seat passenger in sailed off a hilly road to avoid an oncoming car in the Florida Panhandle.
"It was like the car was flying off a cliff, finally landing in a gully and bursting into flames," Henderson said. He broke his neck in three places, his back in two and his right shoulder blade in four.
Because he spent seven years in the Army, Henderson was eligible for treatment at a Veterans Administration hospital. He learned to live without the use of his legs and full use of his right arm. He taught himself how to use his left hand.
"Even today, I try and communicate to anyone, don't ever quit," said Henderson, who does 50 push-ups every morning and evening. "God gives you the mind to do it, you just have to do it."
Then last Jan. 28, near his Metro Parkway home, he was in his wheelchair waiting to cross the street when a truck hit and ran over him.
"The accident really hurt my upper body bad, limiting what use I had of my hands at the time, and in turn hurt my training," Henderson said.
He will compete in bowling, motorized slalom, a rally race and the powerchair 220 race in Cleveland. He won a gold medal in the motorized wheelchair slalom last summer in New York.
"You have to go over bumps, around obstacles and through rough terrain for about five minutes," he said.
"I love the opportunity of being an athlete and watching another 700-plus guys compete. Some are in better shape, some worse, but we're all trying."
Henderson uses his relationship with his three children to motivate himself.
"You can't live if you sit around all day, and that's what I try to show them," Henderson said. Wayne Henderson, 25, is stationed with the Marine Corps. in Korea, while Qyebtibm, 23, just finished a tour of duty with the Marines. Daughter LaToya, 19, is in the Air Force.
Henderson casts aside the thought that he is special because of his condition.
"We are just athletes, like the regular Olympic participants, except we can't run or jump," Henderson said.
Copyright 2002, The News-Press.