2006 Shoot For The FutureFrom an able-bodied participant/volunteer’s perspectiveWHY: "To offer an equal opportunity to and increase awareness regarding the disabled by encouraging and providing those with physical impairments the opportunity to compete in and benefit from a Trap and Sporting Clays shoot". A dream shared by club member Dale Wiley and Dr. Harry Jacobson (Vanderbilt Medical Center) – became reality through the efforts of many.
WHERE: The Tennessee Clay Target Complex (Nashville Gun Club), one of the premier gun clubs in the south,( which may be the only shooting facility anywhere with fully chair accessible Sporting Clays, Trap, and Skeet fields). WHEN: October 6th and 7th 2006 HOW: Assign two able body shooters and one chair shooter as a team to compete with other teams – so that both the able bodied and disabled shooters will learn about each other and build a bond of understanding. OTHER FRINGE PERKS: All competitors and volunteers were treated to welcome packages, departure packages, two days of outstanding food, great weather, wonderful volunteer support, amazing sponsors and excellent club facilities
OBSERVATIONS: As able-bodied competitors we were awed by the determination, skills and abilities of the disabled. We met veterans of several wars who were chair bound due to injuries incurred in defense of our country and our freedoms. We met people who suffered disabling injuries in normal life situations. We met people who had birth defects that resulted in life long disabilities. We met people who had encountered dreaded diseases such as POLIO and were left with withered limbs. We met young, middle aged and elderly people who all shared one thing – "a joy and love of life and of its challenges".
It was humbling and uplifting to be on your knees beside a chair shooter trying to help them hit a flying clay target for the first time. It was rewarding beyond description to experience the joy they had at the successful hits they made. It taught us lessons about determination, staying the course in our life and – never giving up while playing the hand that life has dealt to us. We came to the event thinking we would be teaching people how to shoot targets. We were blessed to leave knowing that we had learned much more than we had taught. For in the scheme of things it wasn’t about competing, or clay targets, or winning trophies – it was about people sharing a few hours of our lives together on this wonderful place called Earth and knowing the joy of our fellow man. We hope the attached photographs make you want to be a part of next year’s event. |
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