Sheila.Fava@f28.n125.z1.fidonet.org (Sheila Fava) (06/21/91)
Index Number: 16294
[This is from the Abled Athlete conference]
[Note from Bill McGarry -- with this article, I have now
started gatewaying messages from the Fidonet Abled Athlete
conference. Sheila Fava is the Fidonet moderator for
this conference.]
Here I am with this blank page before me....AHEM!
GREETS! all Conversationalists, Couch-Potatoes and -potential- Athletes.
Shall I tell you a bit about myself? WoW! I'm overwhelmed by emotion
and humbled by the response. Here goes:
If you do not mind all the sentences beginning with 'I'.......
I am a long distance caller who lives near Las Vegas, Nevada. No, I
cannot give you the inside information on how the NCAA will treat the
UNLV Runnin' Rebels Basketball Team. Read the _Trib_ Sports Page!
I was first asked if I'd be the HOST(ess) of the ABLED-Athlete
Conference last year by the SysOp of NERD'S NOOK BBS in Rocky River,
Ohio. Without hesitation I took the volunteer job. I know there are
-potential- athletes out there and I would like to answer questions
about how a person, who is disABLED, can attain World Class Athlete
status. There are competitions in California (and elsewhere) that are
open to all disABILITIES -- just ask.......
Yes, I am disABLED.....Traumatic Cerebral Palsy from a brain operation
for an 'inoperable' tumor. The operation took place in 1981 in Dallas,
Texas....you didn't think I would let those Las Vegas Doctors bet on
-my- mortality, did you?
Yes, I am an Athlete. Sprint Swimmer. 50 and 100 meter Freestyle and
Backstroke. That does not mean I don't know about Bowling, Track and
Field, Slalom, Bocassia....all for the disABLED population....just ask.
As for age....we will not discuss -my- age -- other than the Canadians
call me the "Grey Mare Yank"....which is alright with me.
I have been competing since 1983 at both State, National and
International levels. The States I have competed in are: California
(Rah! Rah! Rah!), Oregon (Rah! Rah!), Washington (Rah!), Canada
(Cheers!), Utah (Yahoo!), Arizona (Go, Fight, Win!), Texas (Mooooove
Out!), Michigan and Minnesota (M'n'M's!) and N'Yawk (BeeP! BeeeeP!).
I compete at about five competitions a year. How do I fund these
competitions? I write -lots- of funding letters explaining that my hand
is out. Unlike the Olympic Athlete who gets funded for everything, the
disABLED Athlete does not have that privilege...but the disABLED Athlete
does not have to beg either.
How do I get to these competitions? Usually by Greyhound Bus...although
I have scrounged rides with Team Oregon and Team Arizona. To get to
N'Yawk, I flew (in an airplane).
Where have I competed in California? San Jose, Palo Alto, San Diego,
Sacramento and...and...one other City. (The memory is the first to go!)
What Sports Organizations do I belong to? National Wheelchair Athletic
Association (Far West Chapter in San Jose), US Cerebral Palsy Athletic
Association, C.P. Sports (British Columbia), Oregan Games f/t Physically
Limited (Yesssss.), Park City (Utah) Handicapped Sports and Recreation
Association and...and...I'm out of time......See ya on-line.
---Sheila.
** HOSTess: ABLED-Athlete Conference **
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Internet: Sheila.Fava@f28.n125.z1.fidonet.org