Team Enable Competes in St. Andrews Triathlon
Enable America launches a new awareness campaign, called Team Enable. The program is designed to encourage physical activity by people with disabilities. To mark its inauguration, Team Enable competed in the St. Andrews triathlon, fielding a team that included two blind competitors.
Tampa, FL, May 01, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Five members of Team Enable competed in the St. Andrews triathlon in St. Petersburg this weekend, and in doing so demonstrated there are no limits to what people with disabilities can accomplish. A new initiative by Enable America, Team Enable is an awareness campaign designed to encourage physical activity by all.
“Be a participant, not a spectator,” said the founder and CEO of Enable America, Richard Salem, as he described the reason behind Team Enable. Although Salem lost his sight as a young man, he demonstrated the spirit of the cause by competing in the triathlon as a tandem bike racer.
“We should be in neighborhoods, walking groups, bowling leagues, swim and bike groups, whatever people do to get out in the community,” he said. “Our purpose is to make a statement, not only for people with disabilities, but for the community. Working together, we can win.”
Sunday’s triathlon marked Team Enable’s inaugural event. Moving forward the group will organize people with disabilities and other community members through training groups and sports activities. Local businesses and civic groups will be invited to join the cause through sponsorships.
“If there’s a will, there’s a way,” said Capt. Ivan Castro, who ran in the 10K for Team Enable. Castro lost his sight during battle in Iraq, when a mortar round exploded close to him. Today he is the only blind officer in the U.S. Army Special Forces. Despite his disability, his attitude remains positive and his commitment to help others remains strong.
“When I lost my sight I had no clue that you could run, I never thought about tandem biking or swimming, or doing the things that I so much love to do, and I still do them,” Castro said. “You just have to have the right attitude, and the right support to do them. And that’s what Team Enable is here doing.”
Other members of Team Enable’s triathlon team included Castro’s running partner, VetConnect director Scott Heintz, swimmer and Enable America member Elise Nelson, and U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Robert Holmes, who was Salem’s bike partner. Holmes sees tremendous potential for Team Enable.
“You participate together, you achieve together,” he said in describing the central theme of the organization. “Nobody does anything alone. You come together for a common good.”
As the initiative grows, participation in Team Enable events will be enhanced as information on activities and social networks is posted on the group’s website. These activities will first be organized in Tampa, where Enable America is headquartered, but later expanded to other cities where Enable America has established operations.
Enable America was founded by Salem in 2002, as a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people with disabilities find employment and live independently. It is the first organization dedicated solely to increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
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“Be a participant, not a spectator,” said the founder and CEO of Enable America, Richard Salem, as he described the reason behind Team Enable. Although Salem lost his sight as a young man, he demonstrated the spirit of the cause by competing in the triathlon as a tandem bike racer.
“We should be in neighborhoods, walking groups, bowling leagues, swim and bike groups, whatever people do to get out in the community,” he said. “Our purpose is to make a statement, not only for people with disabilities, but for the community. Working together, we can win.”
Sunday’s triathlon marked Team Enable’s inaugural event. Moving forward the group will organize people with disabilities and other community members through training groups and sports activities. Local businesses and civic groups will be invited to join the cause through sponsorships.
“If there’s a will, there’s a way,” said Capt. Ivan Castro, who ran in the 10K for Team Enable. Castro lost his sight during battle in Iraq, when a mortar round exploded close to him. Today he is the only blind officer in the U.S. Army Special Forces. Despite his disability, his attitude remains positive and his commitment to help others remains strong.
“When I lost my sight I had no clue that you could run, I never thought about tandem biking or swimming, or doing the things that I so much love to do, and I still do them,” Castro said. “You just have to have the right attitude, and the right support to do them. And that’s what Team Enable is here doing.”
Other members of Team Enable’s triathlon team included Castro’s running partner, VetConnect director Scott Heintz, swimmer and Enable America member Elise Nelson, and U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Robert Holmes, who was Salem’s bike partner. Holmes sees tremendous potential for Team Enable.
“You participate together, you achieve together,” he said in describing the central theme of the organization. “Nobody does anything alone. You come together for a common good.”
As the initiative grows, participation in Team Enable events will be enhanced as information on activities and social networks is posted on the group’s website. These activities will first be organized in Tampa, where Enable America is headquartered, but later expanded to other cities where Enable America has established operations.
Enable America was founded by Salem in 2002, as a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people with disabilities find employment and live independently. It is the first organization dedicated solely to increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
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Contact
Enable America
Chris Jadick
813-222-3204
http://www.enableamerica.org
Chris Jadick
813-222-3204
http://www.enableamerica.org
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