Page 19 - 2020 Summer CMTA Report

Payton Rule (right)
with DASA trainer
Kimi Kemp

tion (DASA) that offers adaptive I began falling less and had soon. Exercise has been the best
recreational and competitive sports more energy. I have had CMT treatment I have received for my
for kids and adults with physical symptoms my whole life, but at CMT. I am so thankful for the
disabilities. My mom surprised me the age of 17, I was able to func- support and empowerment I have
one day by signing me up for their tion better than I ever had. received from DASA and Kimi
adaptive workout program. The program has benefited and am excited to see what the
I am not going to lie: When more than just my body. I find my future holds. h
I first heard I had been signed up workouts both enjoyable and
Shelly, 67, recently moved to Norfolk, Vir-
for an adaptive program, I was not empowering. Kimi is also my ginia, where she plans to continue working
excited. I pictured myself in a trainer and she pushes me just as out. Payton, now 21, is a rising junior at
room lifting hard as any personal Washington University in St. Louis, where
extremely light When I first trainer pushes any she is pre-OT and studying philosophy,
neuroscience and psychology.
weights and doing heard I had been able-bodied client. She
careful, light exercise signed up for is also always willing to
that would not chal- try and help me
lenge or excite me at an adaptive achieve any goal I set, DASA is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit specializing in
all. In addition, I program, I was no matter how crazy it therapeutic sport and fitness opportunities.
had always heard not excited. may seem. Right Trainees are encouraged to seek their highest level
that CMTers cannot before I started train- of independence and become involved to the
gain much muscle, so as far as I ing with Kimi, I had set a goal for fullest extent with their non-disabled peers and
was concerned, this would be bor- myself to complete a half- their community as a whole. With programs for
ing and pointless. marathon. This was a goal that both children and adults, DASA seeks to promote
I could not have been more many questioned and perhaps physical fitness, self-confidence, family values, and
wrong. I left my first workout doubted I would reach. However, a positive, team-building environment designed to
sweating and out of breath, and I Kimi’s response was an immediate encourage personal growth throughout all aspects
was sore for days. But I kept going “Awesome! Let’s do it. I’ll train of life. To learn more about DASA, go to
back week after week and eventu- you.” With Kimi’s help, I was able www.dasasports.org.
ally something crazy happened: to complete a half-marathon a lit- DASA is located in St. Peters, Missouri.
I started to feel stronger. Activities tle over a year later. For a list of similar organizations in other parts of
that had been difficult—like get- I have been training one-on- the country, go to www.challengedathletes.org/
ting off the floor and navigating one with Kimi for four years now adaptive-sport-organizations/.
stairs—became significantly easier. and don’t plan to stop any time

SUMMER 2020 THE CMTA REPORT 19