West campus helps disabled vets compete in Valor Games for second year in a row

For the second year in a row, members of the Sports Council team at Palmer College of Chiropractic’s West campus provided complimentary sports-care services for disabled U.S. veterans and wounded, ill or injured active-duty service-members who competed in the seventh annual Valor Games Far West. This year’s multi-sport competition was held May 31-June 3 on Coast Guard Island in Alameda, California.

Introduced in 2011, the Valor Games are funded through a grant sponsored by the U.S. Veterans Administration. Regional events are held annually in four parts of the country. Athletes compete in a variety of adapted sports, including archery, biathlon, cycling, field events, powerlifting, and swimming.

The Far West event is presented in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, the Northern California Regional Paralympic Sport Program, and the Far West Wheelchair Athletic Association from San Jose, an organization that has provided sports opportunities for individuals with disabilities since 1968.

Interns from the Palmer Chiropractic Clinics in San Jose, under the direction of clinicians Andrew Cohen, D.C., CCSP® (West ’04) and Zach Brantner, D.C. (West ’07), provided care for several dozen of the more than 100 athletes who competed.

Sports Council team-members who assisted with care provided at Valor Games 2018 included: executive officers Joanna Holleran, Sports Council president; Corey Diamond, vice president; Korissa Ramage and Iannick Remillard, event-coordinators; Jordan Briault and Kyle Siskar, assistant event-coordinators; interns Corinne Alexander, Courtney Bartel, Anurag Cheema, Nancy Chu, Danielle Diaz, Kamran Eghtesad and Vicky McCoy; clinical assistants Matt Bailey, Abigail Boorman, Ilan Green, Emily Anne Pillari, and Tim Windsor; and tent assistants Adrian Galindo, Anne Kim, Calvin Ng and Deepak Rattu.

“Valor Games is an experience that you won’t really find elsewhere, with the most amazing athletes; I think everyone can learn from an environment like that, whether academically, intellectually, or motivationally,” said Siskar, who, in addition to his Sports Council officer-position, also serves as president of the West student-chapter of the American Chiropractic Association (SACA).

In addition to enhancing the athletes’ experience through on-site services to help them achieve optimal performance in their events, Palmer’s involvement supports the Valor Games’ mission of promoting healthy, active lifestyles for disabled veterans to achieve successful community reintegration.

“Valor Games Far West is incredibly grateful for the care and support Palmer College provided our veterans and active-duty service members who have a disability during this year’s event,” said Jessica Elix, Valor Games Far West director.

“The appreciation of care was amazingly evident by no empty tables! The students provided a level of care, compassion, and expertise to our athletes, allowing them to feel confident in their competitions, and ease their aches and pains. We hope to partner with Palmer College again next year!”

“Every Sports Council event is special, but the Valor Games is a unique experience on multiple levels,” said Dr. Cohen, who maintains his practice at ProActive Chiropractic in San Francisco.

“From an education standpoint, the students learn about working with athletes in wheelchairs, with a prosthesis, after multiple surgeries, with PTSD, with multiple medications, among other conditions. The Valor Game athletes rank among the most grateful and appreciative patients. It was an honor to provide care, and their athletic performances were quite inspiring.”

“I go to these events for the fun of staying active, and to help myself feel better,” said Valor Games participant Joseph Jones, one of the many veterans who received care from the Palmer team during the four-day event.

“This was my first experience with chiropractic — and I feel pretty good!”

Note: Since 2008, Palmer College of Chiropractic has provided more than $3 million of complementary services to qualified active-duty personnel, veterans and their legal dependents via care at the campus-based Palmer Chiropractic Clinics. Learn more about Palmer College of Chiropractic’s Military Care Program.