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    Posted August 5, 2012 by
    ValerieMay
    Location
    Falmouth, Massachusetts
    Assignment
    Assignment
    This iReport is part of an assignment:
    What do the Paralympics mean to you?

    ValerieMay and 14 other iReporters contributed to Open Story: London 2012 Olympics
    More from ValerieMay

    Interview with Paralympic Sailor Paul Callahan

     

    CNN PRODUCER NOTE     ValerieMay says a highlight of interviewing Paralympic sailor Paul Callahan, was when Callahan spoke of his camp called Sail to Prevail. 'I asked him what motivates him and inspires him to sail and compete in the Paralympics, he said it was the kids that gave him his strength to keep going,' she says. She says she had an opportunity to see him sail, and that the boat was engineered to allow him to steer. 'His team consists of a double amputee and a single amputee, when watching them you couldn't even guess that they were disabled,' she says. She says she found Callahan's story really inspiring. ‘Paul could have given up after his accident but he is one those people who turned it around to help others. He inspires athletes and others that you can do anything,' she says.
    - Jareen, CNN iReport producer

    This morning in Falmouth I was able to interview and film Paralympic Sailor Paul Callahan for FCTV-13. Paul after having an accident which left him paralyzed, unable to walk with use of his arms and partial use of his wrists turned to his love of sailing. He told me that sailing made him feel independent and free from his wheelchair. The pictures tell just how he has managed to get himself into his sailboat and what fantastic engineering is used so that he can steer the boat. Paul qualified for his first Paralympic games representing the USA in Sydney, and has now qualified for the Paralympics in London and will be leaving Cape Cod in 10 days to compete at the games. While in Falmouth he is practicing in a Regatta at the Falmouth Yacht Club. He is a very giving person and has started a Charity, camp for all types of disabled children to learn to sail called Sail to Prevail.

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