10 reasons Lakeshore Foundation is among nation's best
Lakeshore Foundation in Homewood is known worldwide as the place to come for adaptive sports activities for people with disabilities. And now it's been named one of the 10 best facilities in the nation by Sports Planning Guide magazine.
Its motto makes the Foundation's goal clear: "There is no physical limit to human achievement."
From world-class facilities, to top-notch technology, to the best place for Team USA and other elite athletes...Lakeshore Foundation is the best.
Photo, Lakeshore Foundation
What they say about Lakeshore Foundation
According to Sports Planning Guide, facilities like the Lakeshore Foundation are becoming more and more important: "Top-notch adaptive sports complexes across the country are giving disabled people opportunities like never before.The possibilities are expanding for the disabled thanks to medical advancements—and to the many new facilities geared towards empowering people with disabilities."
Of Lakeshore Foundation, the magazine said: "Opened in 2001 and geared towards providing people with disabilities a place for recreation and training, Lakeshore has risen to the top of the ranks of world-class fitness facilities."
But don't take their word for it. Here are 10 reasons why Lakeshore Foundation--right here in Birmingham--is recognized world over for what they do for people with disabilities.
Photo, Lakeshore Foundation
10. The facilities themselves
The Lakeshore complex is impressive. It covers 45 acres and has two heated pools, a fieldhouse with three hardwood courts and a 200-meter track, a climbing wall and a seven-lane marksmanship range among other features. It makes it easy for multiple teams to practice and compete, camps to take place and individuals to get the rehabilitative work they need in many areas.
Photo, Bernard Troncale
9. The variety of sports competition
Lakeshore Foundation serves as the home for a huge variety of sports competition. Athletes of all ages and levels come to Alabama to compete in competitions. There are also daily and weekly recreation classes for youth and adults. Come to the facility almost any day of the week and you'll see athletes playing hard.
Seen here is a game of goal ball between Team USA and Canada. But you'll also find track and field, swimming, wheelchair rugby, cycling and so many more sports than you can even imagine. Check out a few of them below.
Photo, Lakeshore Foundation
8. Wheelchair Rugby
Lakeshore Foundation is the home of USA Wheelchair Rugby. The team is seen here huddling together during a break in a match against Japan. (This week, Lakeshore is hosting the TriNations Wheelchair Rugby Invitational.)
"For wheelchair rugby, Lakeshore is home. We love it, we know everybody, and they embrace us," Jason Regier, retired USA Wheelchair Rugby player, said.
“Without a doubt, Lakeshore is a critical success factor for us. It is a home away from home,” said USA Wheelchair Rugby Head Coach James Gumbert. “It’s the people that have made the difference. When we come through the doors, we’re family.”
Photo, Bernard Troncale
7. Wheelchair Basketball
Wheelchair basketball is a popular sport at Lakeshore Foundation. Shown here is the University of Alabama battling the Dallas Mavericks during the Pioneer Classic Wheelchair Basketball Tournament.
Photo, Lakeshore Foundation
6. Its research with UAB
The UAB/Lakeshore Research Collaborative is on the forefront of work in rehabilitative science. The research currently encompasses 25 ongoing projects that are supported by $4.5M in annual federal funding.
The goal? To discover how the lives of people with disabilities can be improved.
Check out all of the research projects currently taking place through Lakeshore.
Photo, Team USA
5. It's the official training site for US Olympic and Paralympic athletes
n 2003, Lakeshore earned the designation as an official United States Olympic Committee Olympic and Paralympic Training Site. Lakeshore is a training site for USA Women’s Goalball and USA Wheelchair Basketball. In addition, Lakeshore is the High Performance Management Organization (HPMO) of USA Wheelchair Rugby.
If you watch the Olympics or Paralympics, there's a good chance some of the athletes have trained right here in Birmingham.
Photo, Lakeshore Foundation
4. It makes a difference to children with disabilities
Children with disabilities get active at Lakeshore Foundation, and they learn about the difference that athletic involvement can make in their lives.
Camps are some of the most popular features for children. (A Spring Break camp is seen here.)
Photo, U.S. Paralympics
3. World champions have come from Lakeshore
Lakeshore has produced 52 Paralympic athletes, coaches and staff, and those athletes have captured 30 Paralympic medals.
Local Birmingham athletes like three-time Paralympian (track) Josh Roberts and five-time Paralympic medalist (cycling) Jennifer Schuble train at Lakeshore to reach their Paralympic goals.
Photo, Lakeshore Foundation
2. It supports wounded warriors
Lakeshore is known for its outstanding support system for military veterans and personnel. It serves as a place for wounded men and women to use lessons from sport and recreation to learn how to pursue an active, healthy lifestyle.
The Lima Foxtrot programs for injured military began as a response to the significant number of men and women with injuries from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and has now served over 2,200 injured servicemen and women and their families from 46 states for ten years.
“I am just so proud and honored by the work and commitment of Lakeshore and Birmingham’s commitment to our wounded warriors…you make a difference in the lives of the men and women who come here," Adam M. Robinson, Jr., Former Navy Surgeon General said.
Photo, Lakeshore Foundation
1. It gives hope to people with dsabilities
The bottom line is quite simple: Lakeshore Foundation provides hope to people with disabilities, and provides the best possible environment for those who want to push themselves to succeed.
The words of one program participant says it all: "Everything we did here challenged me to push past the barriers I made for myself regarding what I thought were my limitations. I tried things I never had before and most importantly to me, I began the process of picking back up a sport that meant the world to me prior to my injury, a sport I had not attempted to do in almost a decade."
Learn more about Lakeshore Foundation
Want to know more?
Check out the Sports Planning Guide article.
Learn more about Lakeshore at its website.
Follow Lakeshore on Twitter.
Read articles from AL.com about sports and other activities at Lakeshore.
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