When it came to sports, Gianna Rojas had been sitting on the "sidelines" her entire life. Born without fingers on her left hand, the 56-year-old from Oak Ridge, N.J. was constantly left out and bullied in her youth. "I was born in a generation where society taught children, 'don't look, don't stare and don't ask questions,' Rojas explained. "I was [...]
Purpose2Play Founder Kim Constantinesco is many things: a ninja-like athlete, a fiercely competitive snowboarder, and a journalistic champion of unsung heroes everywhere. Now, she can add children’s book author to that list. Her first book, Solar the Polar, (MacLaren-Cochrane Publishing) hit bookshelves and online retailers in December, garnering such great response that it temporarily sold out within hours of release. [...]
What if we all realized that we share common ground under the American flag? That's the message The Adaptive Training Foundation (ATF) and Klutch: A Creative Company are highlighting in their powerful newly released video called #DearFlag. ATF is a 501(c)3 Dallas-based gym for people who have suffered life-altering injuries or illnesses. They don't go there to rehab. They go there [...]
We first introduced you to Adaptive Training Foundation founder David Vobora in 2015. He's the former NFL linebacker nicknamed "Mr. Irrelevant" because he was the last player selected in the 2008 draft. However, he's anything but irrelevant these days. After a shoulder injury led to a pain pill addiction, and subsequently, rehab, Vobora started training elite athletes in a Dallas [...]
If you could toss TED Talk, ESPN, and Upworthy in a blender, Purpose2Play Summit: Talking Triumph is what you would get -- rich nutrition for the soul! We dove under the surface hype with some of the country’s most inspiring athletes and heroes in sports; those who truly win for all the right reasons. This half-day celebration offered inspiration and [...]
Photo courtesy of George Garcia By Shannon Scovel George Garcia Jr. could have quit. He could have resolved to living the rest of his life in a wheelchair and faced the realities of his accident without trying to change his fate. But something inspired Garcia to take charge and make a change. He wanted to be active, to [...]
By Kim Constantinesco For the last year, we've published numerous pieces on the Adaptive Training Foundation (ATF), a gym and a safe haven for adaptive athletes, started by former NFL linebacker David Vobora. With its contagious energy, it has truly become one of our favorite places to visit. For military veterans who have lost limbs in combat or for [...]
Vanessa Cantu working hard with ATF trainer Madi Jacob By Kim Constantinesco Millions of people every day sluggishly drag themselves to the gym just to "get through" a 30 or 60-minute workout. Reasons for stepping inside the mirror-clad, iron-filled space vary as much as iPod playlists do. However, at the root of losing weight, feeling better, gaining [...]
Photo: Hector Picard/Facebook Hector Picard, 49, was never an endurance athlete. However, once he became a double-arm amputee, everything changed. Since 2009, Picard has completed over 100 triathlons, including multiple Ironmans. If you're thinking, how does a man without arms swim and bike, you're not alone. "I have total faith in what I can do," Picard said. Ever [...]
Beth Sanden celebrates the completion of her journey. Photo courtesy of Beth Sanden By Josh Jacques When Beth Sanden, 60, traveled to Antarctica in February, she used her 43-pound handcycle to complete a marathon. More importantly, she finished her 13-year journey to accomplish the unthinkable -- to become the first athlete with a disability to finish a full [...]