Photo By Benny Ontiveros | U.S. Army 1st Lt. Christopher Parks, Warrior Transition Unit, Fort Hood, Texas,...... read more read more
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By Benny Ontiveros
William Beaumont Army Medical Center, Fort Bliss, Public Affairs
FORT BLISS, Texas – U.S. Army 1st Lt. Christopher Parks, Warrior Transition Unit, Fort Hood, Texas, is using adaptive sports to help him overcome his illness obtained by a rare flesh eating bacteria that took his right leg from him a few years ago. Parks lost his right leg in a short amount of time while on active duty but that didn’t keep him down for long after learning about the adaptive sports program.
“I was in a dark place for a while but I had to find a way to overcome my illness and be an example for my kids.” he said. Jokingly, Parks indicated that every morning he picks his motivation up off of the floor but actually finds it through his family and applies it to adaptive sports.
“It has been a long struggle but with the support of my family, I am competing in as many sports as possible and sitting volleyball just happens to be one of them.” Parks said. Through adaptive sports, wounded service members and veterans are given the opportunity to recover from their illness, wounds, and injuries by participating in the 2016 U.S. Army Trials hosted by the U.S. Army Warrior Transition Command at Fort Bliss, Texas.
“The Army Trials is giving me an opportunity to overcome my illness through competition. I want to better myself by competing against other talented service members,” he said. Parks isn’t alone in the recovery process.
Over 100 wounded, ill, and injured service members are in search for a better quality of life. By training and competing in events like the Army Trials, this help them focus on contributing to the success of their physical and mental capabilities.
The adaptive sporting events that are contributing to the recovery process include running, swimming, wheelchair basketball, and cycling to name a few. Parks is training in sitting volleyball to help test his agility.
The emphasis of adaptive sports and reconditioning for Parks resides in the ability to maintain physical fitness and be a positive role model and or mentor. “I am here for more than just the medals. I want to be a positive role model for my children and a mentor for the other athletes.” said Parks.
After the Army Trials, Parks hopes to be selected for the U.S. Army team at the 2016 Department of Defense Warrior Games scheduled to take place at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, June 14-22.
| Date Taken: | 03.06.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 03.06.2016 15:14 |
| Story ID: | 191283 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 71 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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