Rowing Debuts in Veterans Wheelchair Games at Future Page-designed Boathouse

When Dallas United Crew, Inc. (DUC) began working with Page on possible designs for a community boathouse on White Rock Lake, the club included adaptive athletes and wounded veterans in their scope of potential users.

By coincidence, the Veterans Administration asked them to host the rowing event of the 2015 National Veterans Wheelchair Games in Dallas. Because the event was being offered for the first time, organizers expected half as many participants as they got, and the feedback was very enthusiastic.

While the DUC team has been working with a therapist at the VA hospital in Dallas for guidance in developing adaptive programs, they also received input from Glendon Bentley, the executive director of the Paralyzed Veterans Lone Star Chapter, on the design of the future boathouse.

“We’ve wanted to do adaptive rowing for a long time,” said the president of DUC, Belinda McDonnell. “To do it in conjunction with the Wheelchair Games has been amazing.”

To read a recap on the National Veterans Wheelchair Games and see an associated video, click here. 

To see a description of the event in US Rowing News and watch a video, click here. 

The DUC is a nonprofit organization promoting oar and paddle sports, including rowing, dragon boating and kayaking.