AASRA News
- News Story Archives -
AASRA board member Calvin Howard's research and advocacy work on behalf of amputees
During Calvin Howard's time on the AASRA Board, he came to understand more of the difficulties associated with the amputee community, specifically within healthcare. He assembled a group of medical students and doctors from across Canada to analyze the Canada's ability to adequately fund prosthetic devices and to determine whether this was in line with our goal of universal health care.
Surprisingly, his team found large gaps in care and significant failings of legislation across the country to keep up to date with prosthetic devices. The work has recently been published in the Canadian Orthotics & Prosthetics Journal and has garnered national attention. View Calvin's article.
AASRA Member Holds "Learn to Wheelchair Curl" Workshop
AASRA member Wendy Frazier along with a couple of her teammates demonstrated wheelchair curling to a group of kids and adults with disabilities at Winsport through the Abilities Hub this past Sunday. As it was not feasible to get out on actual ice, a floor curling set was used.
One never knows who participants may be. AASRA member Chealsea Coats was a participant. Hopefully will see her come out and participate in wheelchair curling next season!
Wendy truly felt honoured to share the passion of one of her sports with kids, and hopes to see them get more involved with sport and become our future paralympians or special olympians.
Jesse Florkowski makes history at 72nd NAGA in Las Vegas
The 72nd United States Amputee and Adaptive Championship was held at Stallion Mountain Golf Course In Las Vegas Nevada from October 25th-28th which had 90 athletes from all over the United States and Canada.
Because of the Covid 19 pandemic I was the only international competitor. Monday was the practice round which was cool and breezy. The course played totally different during the tournament. The weather was calm and warm.
I ended up shooting 76,73,69(+2) to win the arm division by quite a bit and won the overall title by 2 shots. This was the first time that a one-armed golfer won the overall event.
Everyone had a blast and we’re all looking forward to next years competition.
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Jesse
AASRA Board Member Rink Wins 2020 Wheelchair Curling Provincial Championship
Don Kuchelyma is a member of the AASRA Board of Directors. He is also quite a skilled wheelchair curler too! Don and his rink recently participated in and ended up taking top spot at Alberta Curling's 2020 Wheelchair Provincial Championship, held in late October at the Avonair Curling Club in Edmonton.
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Pictured here are the champions: (front row L to R) Mike McMullan, Warren Fleury, Shawna Welsh, and Don Kuchelyma; standing in the back row is coach Rick Jenkyns.
One-armed Canadian amateur Laurent Hurtubise made a hole-in-one playing alongside two PGA Tour pros in The American Express pro-am event.
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Born without a right hand, Hurtubise aced the 151-yard par-3 fourth hole at PGA West's Stadium Course in the first round Thursday. The ball landed near the front of the green and rolled in.
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To read the full article and see the video of the moment it happened, click here.
Jesse Florkowski has another Win at Florida Winter Regional Event
The North American One Armed Golf Association Winter Regional event was hosted at Mission Inn Resort in late January just outside of Orlando, Florida. AASRA's Jesse Florkowski placed 1st in the unassisted division with scores of 80 & 78, and finished 2nd overall.
Jesse had not competed since the Las Vegas Disabled Invitational back in October, so he was very pleased with his outcome, and is hoping for another successful 2020 golf season!
Para-Athletics Camps with U of A Steadward Bears
Two 2-day camps running November 24/25, 2018 and January 26/27, 2019 at the Steadward Centre (University of Alberta North Campus) will provide training from qualified coaches in all para-athletic events, as well as provide sessions on nutrition, strength and conditioning, and sport psychology techniques.
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Click the poster for additional details!
Alberta Golf Team Sponsored by AASRA Captures 2018 CADNO Championship in Waterloo, ON
On August 15-17 the Alberta Provincial Amputee Golf Team sponsored by AASRA captured the Interprovincial Amputee Golf competition beating out teams from BC, Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba. The competition was part of the 2018 CADNO (Canadian Amputee and Disabled National Open) tournament held at Grey Silo Golf Course in Waterloo, Ontario.
Congratulations to team members Doug Campbell, Patrick Griffin, Vic McClelland and Dave Marchand.
AASRA's Jesse Florkowski Wins the North American One Armed Golf Championship
Jesse Florkowski remains the undisputed king of one-handed golf. The Medicine Hat Golf and Country Club assistant pro won his fourth straight title Thursday at the North American One Armed Golf Association’s championships in Michigan, besting Florida’s Vince Biser 3-and-2 in the unassisted match play final.
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Check out these links for full story details:
Alberta Association of Orthotists & Prosthetists Response to Alberta Aids Daily Living Approved Product Lists (APLs)
Please talk to your prosthetist or other health care provider about these changes.
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Review their response here:
... and here are some more stories that are just plain inspirational!
Thank You AASRA
"Riley has been chosen by all the Coaches of the SCAHL Bantam AA league as MVP for the 2019-2020 season. Just wanted to thank you for the support as this elite league is not cheap to play in and your help is much appreciated. We hope to come out to one of the golf tournaments this summer if this stupid covid allows. Thanks again for the support." - submitted by Trevor Preachuk, Riley's father
Riley Preachuk is a right arm below the elbow amputee playing hockey in the South Central Alberta Hockey League. Riley was voted Most Valuable Forward by the leagues 13 coaches, finishing third with 45 points tied for league lead with 24 goals and league high 9 power play goals in 34 games.
Wendy Frazier, AASRA member, competes in Wheelchair Curling & Disabled Sailing
I started wheelchair curling in 2012. In 2013 team Smart (team Alberta) picked me up as an alternate thus I play with them when needed. This year for the 2019 Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championships I didn’t get out in a game. However I played an important part. I’d scout teams we were slated to play next to get a sense of how they play. My information was incorporated into game strategy. It was a 3 way tie for first place after the end of the round robin. Team Alberta ended up first due to having the best score for last stone draw and had a buy right through to semi final.
We went all the way to the final against team MB. They conceded in the 7th end with a score of 9-3 thus the champions. Team Smart is a strong team and been close to the gold many times. They finally got the gold.
I now have a full set of medals from nationals; gold silver and bronze.
It is remarkable about the talent seen at nationals.
69-Year-Old Double Amputee Has Just Climbed Mount Everest
69 year-old Chinese national Xia Boyu reached the summit of Mount Everest from the Nepal side, on his fifth attempt to climb the world’s highest peak. Xia lost his legs after his first attempt on Everest in 1975, when he was part of the Chinese Mountaineering Team, after he lent a teammate his sleeping bag. (read the rest of Xia's story...)
'One Armed Fishing Report, 2017'
- by Randy Reaman
November 1st, a fresh snow is falling and another Alberta winter is looming. Ugh. But, I shouldn't complain too hard. A week ago my son and I were happily fishing the Bow River in plus 20 degrees. I still haven’t landed my 20 inch Bow River Rainbow but I’ve hooked him twice now and I’m looking forward to our next rendezvous. (read the rest of Randy's story...)
Softball Player Returns to Field after Losing Her Arm
Beauna High School varsity softball player Schae Jacoby lost part of her pitching arm during an ATV accident earlier this year. With support from her family and her team, she has returned to the field, determined as ever.
High School Softball Player Born with One Hand
Vanessa Hernandez has been playing softball since she was 5 years old. Despite being born without a left hand. This is her story.