This week I went to the 71st Annual NYS AHPERD Conference on November 19-22, 2008 at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, NY. It was great, I was giving the opportunity to socialize with other professor, teachers, and coaches from all over New York State. I attended many workshops that were held all week, for example the Broadway Dance presentation, Speed Stakers presentation, Adapted Physical Education seminar and many more. I was able to see and help out Dr. Davis, my professor from Cortland, with his new website SimplexityGames.com.
My favorite thing of the conference all together was meeting a Para-Olympian by the name of "Jamin" Jimmy Joseph. He is a Para-Olympian for the USA in Wheelchair Basketball, and Curling. He took the Bronze medal in the last Olympics in Curling. They have asked him to
try out for the Tennis Team also.
Joseph has an amazing story, it started out as him just being an average garbage man in New Hartford, NY. When one evening a truck ended up taking his legs from him by hitting him from behind and pinching him into the garbage truck he was throwing trash in. After 12 hours and 12 surgeons later he woke up in the hospital bed and looked at the doctor and said "hey doc what did you do with my legs......you didn't put them in the closet did ya", this just goes to show you what type of person Joseph was for his incredible story he has to tell.
If you ever get the pleasure of meeting this incredible man, I suggest you do so. He has the best attitude and drive to achieve his goals and let nothing stand in his way attitude I have ever seen. One thing that proves this is, wheeling in the 15k Boilermaker race in Utica, NY and finishing the race in an hour and 10 mins, in a conventional wheelchair not a race chair.
"Suny Cortland is the place to BE for PE!"
No comments:
Post a Comment