Local Veteran Competes in National Veterans Wheelchair Games

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       Anchorage, Alaska. -- July 5,2006 -- Edwin Thomas, a disabled British military veteran from Falmouth, Cornwall, Great Britain, is competing in the 26th National Veterans Wheelchair Games, being held through July 8 in Anchorage, Alaska. With more than 550 athletes from 46 states, Puerto Rico and Great Britain, this is the largest annual wheelchair sports event in the world. All athletes are military veterans who use wheelchairs due to spinal cord injuries, certain neurological conditions, orthopedic amputations or other disabilities. Thomas, 57, is a paraplegic.. A team from Great Britain has competed in this event since 1987. The twelve athletes belong to the British Ex-Services Sports Association.

       Thomas is competing in the following events:

archery (para/amp with compound bow)
air guns (para)
bowling (manual)

       "I am honoured to lead the British Team," said Thomas, who is serving as Chairman of the British ExServices Wheelchair Sports Association wheelchair team this year. "They all compete to the best of their abilities, and, like me, enjoy coming to the Games each year. We look forward to seeing many old friends and of course making new ones. Wheelchair sport has given us all a new lease of life after injury, and competing enables us to do what we all thought was gone for good. Our goals for this year are to make many new friends, enjoy the competition and win as many medals as possible. We look forward to seeing everyone at the greatest Wheelchair Games on earth."

       Athletes in the Games compete within three divisions -- Masters (over age 40), Novice (first-time competitors in the Games), and Open (all others, or those who chose to compete in this category). They also compete within classes according to the level of their physical ability, with three quadriplegic-level classes (IA, IB, and IC), and four paraplegic-level or amputee classes (II, III, IV, and V). Thomas competes as a Class V in the Open division.

       The Games are presented by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), and are hosted this year by the Alaska VA Healthcare System and Regional Office and the Paralyzed Veterans of America Northwest Chapter. Funded with help from a host of corporations and service organizations, the National Veterans Wheelchair Games are a showcase for the benefit of sports rehabilitative programs, and the remarkable athletic abilities and personal achievements of our nation's disabled veterans.

Note to Editor:
If you would like to interview Thomas, contact Kim Byers, National Veterans Wheelchair Games Public Affairs Coordinator, at (734) 761-7824 after July 10. (Above information regarding military service and disability provided by veteran.)