Former Airman competes in veterans wheelchair games

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Matthew Bates
  • Defense Media Activity-San Antonio
SPOKANE, Wash. (AFNS) --  Swimming 100 meters is difficult. Swimming this distance without the use of your legs seems near impossible. 

Yet, this is exactly what Terri Fuda did July 15. She is taking part in the 29th National Veterans Wheelchair Games here, where she competed in the 100-meter freestyle swimming event at Whitmore College's aquatic center. 

The former senior airman served as an administrative specialist in the Air Force for nearly 10 years before a tumor left her in the wheelchair she now occupies. 

"The tumor grew into my spinal cord, so when they removed it, they had to remove some of my spine with it," she said. 

Over the next few years, Mrs. Fuda never thought people like her existed outside of her own bubble. Then she discovered the Wheelchair Games and everything changed. 

"I found a place where everybody was just like me," she said. "I didn't stand out and I was different. It was a place where I could just be myself and not worry what everyone else thought." 

Mrs. Fuda doesn't look at her fellow disabled veterans as competition, but as an inspiration. 

"Every time I think I can't do something, I just look at some of the people here and I think, 'Hey, if they can do it, so can I,'" she said. 

But it's not only her fellow competitors she is inspired by. Her son is also a driving influence behind her participation in the Wheelchair Games. 

"He actually filled out my forms and chose my events," Mrs. Fuda said. "And he chooses events that bring me out of my comfort zone and makes me do them." 

One of these events was the 100-meter freestyle. Mrs. Fuda wasn't sure she could do it, but she worked with a coach and prepared. 

The training, and her son's encouragement, paid off. Mrs. Fuda finished the event in a time of 2:44:96, and beat the only other female competitor in her race by over a minute. 

And throughout the race, a group of family and friends wearing t-shirts that said "Team Terri" were there, encouraging her to swim faster, to go farther. 

"Terri has just been an example to all of us," said Karen Sicks, Mrs. Fuda's cousin. "And these games are a way for her show the world she hasn't given up." 

Which is exactly why these games exist, say organizers at the event. 

"These games allow disabled veterans to come together, have fun and show that just because they're in wheelchairs this doesn't mean they aren't still athletes," said Matthew Allen, public affairs officer for the Spokane Veterans Affairs Medical Center. 

This was Mrs. Fuda's second year at the Wheelchair Games and she plans to keep coming back as long as she's able. 

"If I can make it, I'll be here," she said. 

Mrs. Fuda is also participating in bowling, the javelin and discus tosses and the air gun shooting event this year.

The Wheelchair Games are an annual event sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Paralyzed Veterans of America. The Games include 17 competitive events, including weightlifting, basketball, rugby, swimming and archery. 

More than 500 athletes attend the event from across the United States, Puerto Rico and Great Britain.