Cleveland area Veterans roll into Detroit for the annual National Veterans Wheelchair Games

This week, Veterans across the country will arrive in Detroit to participate in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games – an annual adaptive sports competition co-presented by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) for Veterans who require the use of a wheelchair for athletic competition. 

Fifteen local Veterans from the greater Cleveland area will participate in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games (NVWG) event, July 9–14. 

• John Turchan,  Bib 677, Age 71, Ashtabula,  OH, USMC

• Robert Thomas,  Bib 826, Age 56, Macedonia,  OH, USA

• Terry Rock,  Bib 695, Age 69, Macedonia,  OH, USN

• William Searles,  Bib 406, Age 71, Cleveland,  OH, USN

• Holly Koester,  Bib 696, Age 66, Walton Hills,  OH, USA

• Joshua Maley,  Bib 881, Age 34, Medina,  OH, USAF

• Mike Weston,  Bib 190, Age 32, Conneaut Lake,  PA, USA

• Larry Bostic,  Bib 81, Age 62, Canton, OH USA

• Nathan Collins,  Bib 175, Age 53, North Ridgeville, OH USN

• Antonio Borden,  Bib 312, Age 50, Cleveland, OH USA

• Brian Malbrough,  Bib 577, Age 43, Burton, OH USA

• Bruce Matthias,  Bib 263, Age 55, Parma Heights, OH USA

• Lafayette Ingram,  Bib 654, Age 52, Bucyrus, OH USA

• Dennis Derheimer,  Bib 657, Age 63, Canton, OH USA

• Anthony Robinson,  Bib 156, Age 48, Cleveland, OH USA

The five-day event, with its focus on demonstrating the unstoppable character of Veterans, offers competitors the opportunity to showcase their talents through events such as basketball, softball, and wheelchair rugby. Approximately 500 Veterans from across the country are expected to participate and will be supported by around 3,000 volunteers and sponsors.

“The Wheelchair Games epitomizes the strength, courage, and determination of our Veterans,” said Dave Tostenrude, director of the National Veterans Wheelchair Games. “I’m excited for them to have this impactful experience as part of their health care journey.” 

The first Wheelchair Games was held in 1981. For 45 years, the event has empowered Veterans to live more independent and active lives through adaptive sports, fitness, and recreation. World-class instructors and recreation therapists help Veterans experience the full potential of rehabilitation and sports medicine as a tool to adapt and overcome perceived barriers in our communities, travel, and in life beyond the perception of “disability”. 

To view content from the event, follow and tag @Sports4Vets on X, Instagram, and Facebook and search #wheelchairgames. B-roll video and photos will be available during the event at https://www.flickr.com/photos/veteransaffairs/albums/with/72177720326323748.

*Photos will be updated each day of the event, beginning July 10 and can be searched by bib number at https://runsignup.com/Race/Photos/MI/Detroit/USNationalVeteransWheelchairGames.

For more information or to request an interview contact damian.mcgee@va.gov or call .

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Damien Horvath, Public Affairs Officer

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