Thunderbolts participate in San Diego veteran’s sports clinic

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Veterans kayak through the Mission Valley River during the National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic Sept. 21, 2016 at San Diego, Calif. The clinic provided opportunities for veterans to learn adaptive surfing, sailing, cycling, kayaking, rowing, judo and archery.

Airmen from Luke Air Force Base assisted with the 2016 Department of Veterans Affairs National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic in San Diego, Calif., Sept. 19 through 23.

More than 40 Airmen attended the clinic assisting disabled veterans. Rehabilitation was promoted using sporting activities such as surfing, archery, sailing, kayaking, cycling and rowing.

The veterans attending the event had a range of disabilities including amputated limbs, burns, neurological disorders, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.

“The event is a unique opportunity for veterans and active duty service members on medical hold to come into an environment that allows them to do adaptive sports that helps them re-transition into the lives they had before their injuries,” said Tristan Heaton, summer sports clinic director.

Veterans from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan attended the clinic. The National Veterans Summer Sports  Clinic works by bringing veterans together to provide them recreational opportunities to compliment rehabilitation, while improving physical, mental and emotional fitness.

Luke Airmen have been volunteering since 2010 and continue to help make the clinic enjoyable for the veterans.

“Luke Airmen are an amazing group of people that allow us to have volunteers at all the venues,” Heaton said. “Without their help, our program would be seriously limited in its overall effectiveness.”

The sports clinic is an incredible opportunity for injured combat veterans and for Airmen at Luke Air Force Base to serve. “This is my third time going and it’s an amazing every time,” said Senior Airman Koraye Williams, 56th Comptroller Squadron finance technician. “It’s an unbelievable feeling to help out the veterans. They have given so much to our country and deserve the time to heal.”

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