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Contributed commentary by Amanda Giddens of Clarksville.
Last night, I had the honor of watching three men play adult ice hockey pickup, each confined to a wheelchair off the ice. This took place at the newly built Ford Ice Center in Clarksville – a Ford Ice Center / NHL Nashville Predators-supported facility. The men moved across the ice like wildfire in a seated position, seated about 2 feet off the ice, against upright standing men like my active-duty husband. I imagine how thrilling it might be to go from a painful tortoise speed to race car driver within a few minutes.
If that was not humbling enough, and courageous on their part, I observed them requiring help to get on and off the ice from the concessions lady and friends, in order to enter the rink, due to elevated doorways entering the ice. Two of the men’s legs did not fully function, and one had no legs below his knees.
After braving the highly competitive and fast-paced game, one player attempted to joke about his struggle to climb the stairs due to his disability, which took about five minutes just halfway up the stairs, saying it would be the perfect opportunity for a movie montage.
I found the lack of an elevator is disheartening. Our community is home to a military/first responder community, Fort Campbell, and sometimes their only stress reliever or higher level of comradery is an hour or two on the ice. I can’t imagine how missing the function of your legs amplifies the attempt for inclusion, humility, mental health and happiness.
So, I am writing, if anyone is listening, what may we do to begin the process of constructing an elevator for people in our community? I don’t want to imagine not having them on the ice with my husband; they are of value and belong with us.