Jeff Underwood and the Lakeshore Foundation help the broken rebuild themselves
The Lakeshore Foundation is in Homewood. (Karim Shamsi-Basha/Alabama NewsCenter)
He had no legs.
Several of them didn’t, but with their massive arms and unquenchable spirit, they wrestled over the ball and pushed their wheelchairs dodging and slamming into each other. Watching eight wheelchair rugby teams compete in the 19th Annual Demolition Derby at the Lakeshore Foundation made me disregard the not-so-good-of-a-day I was having.
It also inspired me.
Jeff Underwood and the Lakeshore Foundation help the broken rebuild themselves from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
The Lakeshore Foundation has been in the business of inspiring, overcoming challenges and helping others since the 1970s. That was when Lakeshore Rehabilitaiton Hospital leadership added a wheelchair basketball team to help those with physical disability engage in an active lifestyle.
The beautiful building sits on a hill next to Lakeshore Hospital in Homewood. It is impressive and grand, but you don’t realize the magnitude of the place until you walk inside and see the gigantic basketball gyms, the massive aquatic center, the huge workout room full of modern machines. A bit of a “mission” is scripted on the faces of those who work here.
Executive Director Jeff Underwood explains that mission.
“We are a nonprofit that provides people with disability and chronic health conditions an active lifestyle. We pursue that mission through a community wellness program with an aquatic center, competitive sports, canoeing, cycling and other recreational activities. Athletes come to our national Paralympic and Olympic training center to pursue their dream of representing this country. We also added a program that benefits injured service men and women, they come at no cost to pursue rehab and re-engagement,” Underwood said.
The foundation has developed the UAB Lakeshore Foundation Research Collaborative. The program digs in deep to understand the benefits of exercise and active lifestyle. They are also active on the policy and advocacy side to improve conditions for disabled people. Underwood takes that one seriously.
“It is really a civil rights issue. There is so much more that can be done and needs to be done, to make life better for the disabled. Things have improved, but we need to continue striving,” Underwood said.
Underwood smiles when he tells me that he has worked there for 25 years.
“It surprises me every time. Our clients deal with a lot of challenges, and working here is very inspirational. You think you are having a rough day, then you see them conquering life despite their challenges. It puts things in perspective,” Underwood said.
The foundation will be holding several events this spring and summer that are open to the public. Some are in preparation for the Summer Paralympics that are taking place in Rio de Janeiro from Sept. 7-18.
“The Summer Paralympics in Rio has scaled up the activity around here. We have selected the women’s Paralympic team. The men’s Rugby team will prepare here, as well as individuals and other teams. We are well represented, and for the first time ever, NBC will be broadcasting the games in the U.S.,” Underwood said.
Underwood took me to the gym later to watch the Demolition Derby. I have to admit, watching those men and women push the limits of mental and physical endurance was more than inspirational.
I left determined to push my own mental and physical limits to a new stratosphere, one that might come close to the limits set by the man with no legs.
You can help by visiting www.lakeshore.org.
Alabama Bright Lights captures the stories, through words, pictures and video, of some of our state’s brightest lights who are working to make Alabama an even better place to live, work and play. Award-winning photojournalist Karim Shamsi-Basha tells their inspiring stories. Email him comments, as well as suggestions on people to profile, at karimshamsibasha@gmail.com.
