A group of individuals with disabilities completed a 220-mile journey through the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. The trip, organized by Ability360, a Phoenix-based nonprofit, included 11 volunteers assisting 11 participants with disabilities on a ten-day whitewater rafting trip. Among the group was Ric Lopez, who lost his leg after a severe infection. “Long story short, I stepped on a rock, twisted my ankle — pin-line fracture. Got infected. Had a plate put in, then taken out. COVID hit and kept the wound open for a year and a half,” Lopez said, according to MSN.
Kelley Parker, an above-the-knee amputee after a car crash, took part in Ability360’s Grand Canyon rafting trip. She said, “If we didn't have rain, we wouldn't see the waterfalls coming down the side of the Grand Canyon, which was epic,” as reported by ABC15. Ability360 organized the expedition with accessibility in mind, pairing each participant with a volunteer to provide support. The group’s recreational therapy programs aim to give people with disabilities opportunities for outdoor activities.
A group of adaptive adventurers recently completed a 220-mile rafting trip through the Grand Canyon, supported by Ability360 and local white water outfitters who provided adaptive equipment at discounted rates. Among the participants was Parker, who continues to work toward her goal of running again after doctors once told her it might not be possible. “Still kind of navigating some fit issues, once I get that dialed in, my next goal is to run again,” Parker said, as mentioned by ABC15.
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