by Albert Pefley – Sunday, October 25th 2020
TEQUESTA, Fla./CBS12 News — In life, we face lots of challenges. Some of us more than others.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, many events have been canceled. That didn’t stop a very talented group of athletes who took to the streets Sunday morning.
“It’s an escape. It’s fun, keeps me fit,” George Vera, a participant from Land O’Lakes, Florida near Tampa.
Vera, who’s a wounded veteran, husband, and father of three daughters did a 26.2-mile marathon along with dozens of others, riding their handcycles starting at Coral Cove Park, going to Jupiter Island and back.
In April 2015, George was shot several times while serving in the U.S. Army Special Forces in Afghanistan.
One of the bullets hit his spine, leaving him paralyzed.
“I was really active before and I used to bike a lot, mountain bike, so I mean for me, and I was a big-time runner, too. For me this is the closest I can get to that,” Vera said.
A non-profit charity, Shifting Gears United, set up the event for people who planned to do the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C., which was shifted to virtual-only status this year due to COVID-19.
“It wasn’t about racing today, it was about just celebrating. Celebrating one another. Celebrating each and every one of them that served our country and gave us freedom,” said Jacqui Kapinowski, President and Executive Director, of Shifting Gears United. She’s also a cancer survivor and a two-time American Paralympian, in 2010 and 2016.
This marathon brought out wounded veterans, first responders, and people with disabilities.
People like James Crews of Pembroke Pines, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a traffic accident in 2008.
“I love doing this,” Crews said, referring to competing in marathons on his handcycle.
He says he hopes he can be an inspiration to others to get out and be active.
“If you have a goal, then go after it,” Crews said.
For some athletes, the thrill of an event like this is very special.
“There’s life after spinal cord injury and all these athletes here obviously are proof of that,” said Rob Bereolos, a participant from Pompano Beach.
“Dream big. There’s nothing impossible. You can do anything you want to do,” Kapinowski said.
Wounded veteran George Vera offers this advice for others.
“I would just tell them don’t ever give up, don’t let their disability define them as a person. That’s what’s gotten me through everything is, okay, I’m in a wheelchair now, paralyzed but I don’t let that run my life. I just continue to live the same way I did before,” Vera said.
Some of those who took part here are not slowing down for the holidays. The same non-profit group is planning another event like this in West Palm Beach in early December. To learn more, go to www.shiftinggearsunited.org.
