When Jason Long considered returning to the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, he had to consider the cost. The Veterans Administration agreed to cover his airfare to Orlando, and there's no entry fee, but a week at a convention center hotel seemed very expensive. Then a friend from church, Bobbi Morgan, stepped in to help him raise some funds.
"I'm just not good at asking for money," Long admitted. He went to a few businesses to ask about sponsorships and found himself offering to help out in the business in return for a contribution. Morgan's plan was to create "Jason Jars" and leave them for people to contribute. It seems to be working, Long said. One jar on the counter at Riordan Hall is slowly filling up.
Last year at his first national competition, he brought home one gold medal, two silver medals and two bronze medals. This year he plans to enter seven events. Since he'll be there seven days, he figures why not enter one event each day?
He's one of four Arkansans planning to attend, he said. He knows the others even though they don't live in this area. He travels to Fort Smith to play wheelchair basketball regularly and got to know them there.
Long was in the Army infantry for eight years. The Army was going to be his career, but a minor injury ended that. At Fort Irwin, Calif., he was being treated for a tear in his MCL, the ligament behind the knee, but a doctor's mistake caused him to lose his leg. He's now on disability and uses crutches to get around.
"You need to have a long-term goal," he said about the games. After he competed last year, he wasn't sure he wanted to continue the intense training needed to succeed, but he realized he needed the goal. Weight lifting, where he won the gold last year, is his best event. He has improved since last year, he said, but, "You never know who will be there."
The athletes compete by age, but Long falls in the middle of a very large age group, 18 to 60. They are also divided by the level of their disability.
Although his family is supportive, they probably won't be traveling to the games to watch. A week at someone else's competition isn't that interesting, he said. He will probably spend most of his time inside the convention center complex. When he isn't competing, he'll go watch the other Arkansans at their events.
Long works out at Riordan Hall almost every morning and has gotten to know many other people who work out there.
"I really appreciate the support and encouragement," he said. He's especially grateful to Morgan and his other friends at Community Church.
General News on 06/20/2018