Navy sends four San Diegans to the military’s adaptive sports event, Warrior Games
Four Navy sailors who live in the San Diego region will compete in various sports at the Department of Defense Warrior Games which began Friday They are Demetrius Walker Anfernee AP Moore Hillary Ruff and Jasmine Jew Hosted at Colorado College in Colorado Springs the Warrior Games Challenge celebrates the tenacity of wounded ill and injured active-duty function members and veterans across the military s branches Nearly wounded ill and injured warrior athletes will compete Th games continue through July Here s more on each of the Navy s local competitors Demetrius Walker Hospital Corpsman First Class Demetrius Walker Photo courtesy of the Navy Office of Society Outreach Hospital Corpsman First Class and San Diego resident Demetrius Walker will compete in archery cycling sitting volleyball swimming wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby during the games In a press release Walker who joined the Navy in to earn a college degree and grow in a new setting explained he learned about the Navy s adaptive sports undertaking from a fellow hospital corpsman who had participated According to Walker Navy Wounded Warrior which coordinates ill injured and wounded veterans non-medical care provided him with a neighborhood that understands him These individuals refuse to cater to their limitations Walker announced I can do more than I think it just takes being in the right ecosystem I have the strength to keep going Jasmine Jew Machinist s Mate First Class Jasmine Jew Photo courtesy of the Navy Office of Area Outreach San Diegan Jasmine Jew Machinist s Mate First Class is a contender in archery field indoor rowing precision air sports swimming and wheelchair basketball at the games According to a press release Jew announced she joined the Navy in to become a part of a larger mission and accelerate her life Navy Wounded Warrior has helped Jew rehabilitate after she was injured shortly after she began her career The sports we play really help rehabilitate me and motivate me to be stronger Jew noted Navy Wounded Warrior is constantly giving me confidence and the ability to feel alive AP Moore Culinary Specialist Third Class AP Moore Photo courtesy of the Navy Office of Region Outreach At the games Culinary Specialist Third Class AP Moore a resident of San Diego will take part in powerlifting indoor rowing track and wheelchair rugby According to a press release he decided in to join the Navy for a better life a chance to voyage and to finish a degree He explained that Navy Wounded Warrior has given him a voice again in the world connecting him with adaptive sports and a infrastructure of arrangement members who understand his situation and experiences I couldn t be luckier to be here Moore mentioned Hillary Ruff Gunner s Mate First Class Hillary Ruff Photo courtesy of the Navy Office of District Outreach El Cajon resident Hillary Ruff Gunner s Mate First Class will cycle row swim and compete in field events and sitting volleyball at the games She joined the Navy in to start a career in general safety according to a press release and yearned to gain more experience in the military after earning her EMT certification Currently she plays softball in a local league cares for her family and utility dog and also serves on the board of Dogs on Deployment an Escondido nonprofit that supports pets during function members deployments and relocations A member of Ruff s care unit convinced her to compete in adaptive sports She joked that I had no choice that it would fill my cup again and allow me to be the me I used to be Ruff announced She was right I gained confidence and uncovered myself surrounded by loving friends who understand the hardship we have all been through
