Ping pong balls patter against the floor and tables, and the sound resounds through the room. One of the only people not in a wheelchair, Sophomore Kate Benedict retrieves the balls that go astray. The task is difficult due to the small size of her hands, but she looks forward to meeting more of the disabled veterans at lunch.

Benedict volunteered at the National Veterans Wheelchair Games in Salt Lake City, Utah in late June and early July. According to the National Veterans Wheelchair Games website, about 600 wheelchair-using veterans participated in sports events such as basketball, rugby, archery, table tennis, and track and field. The events at the National Veteran Wheelchair Games resemble the events at the Olympic Games, but each of the participants in the National Veteran Wheelchair Games are veterans with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, or another neurological injury that requires the use of a wheelchair for sport. The Games rotate hosting cities, and Salt Lake City, Utah, hosted this year’s 36th annual Games. A partnership between the Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Department of Veterans Affairs has organized the National Veterans Wheelchair Games since 1985.

Revere student Kate Benedict contributed to the Games by gathering ping pong and pool balls during the table tennis and pool table events and by taking care of meals for the veterans. About 2,500 to 3,000 volunteers usually help, but most come from the community hosting the games. Benedict, however, travelled from Ohio to Utah. One of only a few teenagers who volunteered with the National Veteran Wheelchair Games, Benedict decided to help because her dad works for Invacare, a wheelchair company that sponsors the event. In awe of the sacrifice, kindness, and thankfulness of the participating veterans, Benedict accounted the inspiration she obtained from the experience.

“They thanked me for helping them, but they did something with a bigger responsibility, and they risked their lives. I didn’t understand why they were thanking me, but I also felt special,” said Benedict.

From the experience Benedict learned the importance of gratefulness for others. Benedict enjoyed preparing the meals for the veterans, and she took advantage of the opportunity to meet the participants. Benedict noted the sacrifice of veterans for the country.

“They risked their lives, and that’s really important. That’s something that sometimes we take for granted,” Benedict said.
Kate’s father travelled with her to Salt Lake City for the Games. Bart Benedict is the Vice President of Research and Innovation for Invacare, a company that provides wheelchairs and other equipment for the disabled. Invacare is a major sponsor of the National Veteran Wheelchair Games and has been for over 30 years. He described the connection of Invacare’s Top End brand products, their recreational products, with the Games.

“We also have a line of recreational wheelchairs: both recreational and racing wheelchairs and handcycles and also basketball wheelchairs, so that was the primary link with the wheelchair games,” Benedict’s father said.

He noted another way that Invacare aids veterans. Invacare helps veterans with their needs regarding wheelchairs both aside from and at the site of the Games. Benedict explained how Invacare provides wheelchairs for veterans: “We do sell the products to the Veterans Affairs Association, which is the governmental organization that provides healthcare to United States veterans. We sell our products to them to provide for the veterans. We also have set up a room (at the Games) where we do periodic maintenance on the veterans’ wheelchairs.”

Benedict was not the only one who noticed the social aspect of the Games. Tom Brown, the Department of The Paralyzed Veterans of America, described the importance of veterans connecting with other veterans. Brown commented on the social aspect of the Games for veterans who have previously competed in the Games.

“The social part of it means a great deal to them to be able see their friends that they’ve made over the years and make some reunions,” Brown said.

Brown also elaborated on the impact that the National Veterans Wheelchair Games have on veterans. According to Brown, the Games offer a hopeful perspective to newly injured veterans. He specifically stated the benefit the Games have on first-time participants.

“For many of the new veterans, this is the first time they have actually done activities that they used to do before they were injured, so it opens up a whole new world for them to first be able to see people with injuries like theirs or even more severe than theirs doing things that they thought they couldn’t do,” Brown said.

Kate Benedict hopes to volunteer with the Games again in the future due to the inspiration she encountered. She experienced overwhelming kindness and gratitude for people she felt indebted to herself, and she hopes to reconnect with these people, who are both athletes and veterans.