The 2011 National Veterans Wheelchair Games will be held August 1st – 6th in Pittsburg, PA. Don Waddell and Gary Duvall, local disabled veterans and members of the DAV in Post Falls, will be among those competing in the 31st NVWG. They both had their start in the games three years ago when they were held close to home in Spokane, WA. There are over 20 events that wheelchair veterans participate in during the week and each veteran may select 3 or 4 events in which he or she would like to participate.
During the games, meals are provided however the other costs associated with going to the games, including travel and hotel, are the responsibility of the veteran. This year, the hotel costs in Pittsburg are expected to be approximately $150 dollars per night for seven nights (a total of $1150 plus taxes). Travel expenses will vary depending on mode of transport and distance covered. Don and Gary have decided to take the extra time to travel by truck and help local teammates by taking a trailer full of the equipment (specialized wheelchairs, hand cycles, trap guns, air rifles, bowling balls, etc). Last year, Gary drove equipment to Denver, CO for the games and it worked out well for everyone. Transporting all this equipment for local veterans to these annual games would be too expensive otherwise and prohibit participation by many, not to mention the high potential for damage. Doing it this way, they estimate that it will cost about $2000 to cover gas and hotel expenses to Pittsburgh and back.
Gary Duvall was in the US Navy from 1970 – 1977 he was a hospital corpsman attached to Marine’s in 1971 until his discharge. He was injured in 1972, but returned to active duty until medically discharged in January 1977. Gary started using a wheelchair fulltime in 2008 due to the ongoing effects of the injuries sustained in 1972. Gary is currently an active member of the Disabled American Veterans as well as a member of the Inland Northwest Disabled Veteran Sports Association.
Gary’s sports history with the Veteran’s Games includes trap shooting, air rifle, and hand cycling in the 2009 Spokane where he won a silver metal in hand cycling. In the 2010 games held in Denver, CO he shot trap again, as well as air rifle, continued with hand cycling, and added weight lifting to his repertoire, winning the bronze medal for lifting in his division. This year, in Pittsburg, Gary is planning on entering hand cycling and weight lifting events again, while adding the 800 meter and the 1600 meter wheelchair races.
Gary notes that “For me the games are fun, but it’s the getting together of the men and women who have served in the military and who are now in wheelchairs like myself that is the best part. It’s so important to know that we can still do so many different sports and that being in a wheelchair isn’t the end, it’s a new beginning.”
Don Waddell grew up in Cd'A and graduated from CHS in 1967.He joined the Army in Sept. of 1968 and was discharged in July of 1970. He did basic training at Ft. Polk La. Served in Ft. Walters Tx. ,Ft Sill Ok., and Dolan Barracks in Germany. In
1973 I was diagnosed with M.S. and have been in a wheelchair ever since.
Don was introduced to the NVW Games in Spokane in 2009 and
participated in the Denver games in 2010. In Aug. Don is going to the NVWC games in Pittsburg PA His events are bench press, solom (obstacle coarse) 200 and 400
meter wheelchair race and the 10k handcycle race. In the 2009 and 2010 Don has won two gold medals, two silver medals, and three bronze medals. Don says “The Veterans Wheelchairs Games have been life changing.”