When Larry Way of Phoenixville, Chester County, first cycled down the Chester Valley Trail in Exton on a hand-powered bike eight years ago, he experienced a feeling of freedom he hadn’t otherwise known outside of swimming in a pool.
“It made me feel alive and energized,” Way said.
Growing up with paralysis in his legs since childhood, due to being diagnosed with polio at the age of 4, has never stopped Way from using different outlets to keep up his physical fitness.
Now aged 77 and living in Phoenixville with his wife of 50 years, Peggy, Way has two grown sons and continues to prosper in a career in finance and typically heads to the Phoenixville YMCA to swim laps at least three days a week.
On top of that, from April through October, you can typically find him cycling on the Chester Valley Trail every Sunday for a couple of hours, getting in about 27 miles per week, and he also enjoys doing longer rides from 34-54 miles on the Schuylkill River Trail with friends, and 50 to 100-mile multi-day rides in and out of state on occasion.
“I also like to enter races like the Marine Corps Marathon and the New York City Marathon,” he said. “There is a hand cycle division that I’ve had the honor of doing once a year in late October.”
Sport and wellness programs
This has all been made possible thanks in part to a friend who lives in Way’s neighborhood who first introduced him to the Pennsylvania Center for Adapted Sports (PCAS), a nonprofit organization that supports athletes with disabilities through sport and wellness programs year-round, centered on cycling, skiing, snowboarding, rowing, kayaking, climbing and more.
The nonprofit, which caters to both children and adults with disabilities, has produced 11 Paralympians across several sports.
“We’re proud of our athletes who excel and change the way people perceive disability,” PCAS states on its website.
PCAS’s mission is to ‘improve the health and well-being of people with disabilities through inclusive sport, wellness and recreation programs’, such as their adaptive cycling program.
“PCAS provides cycles and there is always a volunteer that goes out with each athlete,” Way said. “There are usually about eight to twelve athletes who come out each Sunday and the volunteers are really savvy and help determine what type of bike is best for you.”
Three-wheeled hand cycle
For Way, it is a three-wheeled hand cycle that he powers with his arms. Staying physically fit through cycling and swimming has benefited Way in many ways, including making it possible for him to build strength, endurance and stamina, to enable him to function at his best in everyday living.
“You feel good about yourself because it builds confidence and it helps me maintain my weight,” he said.
Through his involvement in PCAS, Way enjoys the camaraderie and time spent on the trail in nature.
“I like cycling with other people and I’ve made some close friendships over the years,” he said.
In the process of doing things physically through PCAS, Way said he’s accomplishing things he never imagined he’d have the ability to do.
“I wish for the very same feelings of achievement for any disabled person who is ready for a challenge.”
About Pennsylvania Center for Adapted Sports
PCAS, founded by Isabel Bohn and Jeff McGinnis, currently operates 13 sport-and-wellness programs year-round, with a focus on building inclusive communities with barrier-free and supportive settings, where both children and adults can explore their abilities.
Their programs help participants build and maintain strength and function, improve emotional health, and develop lifelong friendships through engagement in sports and recreation in the community.
For all of their participants, they provide equipment, venues, instruction, training, a team of peers and a capable group of encouraging volunteers.
They especially strive to create opportunities for veterans and young athletes, including helping schools add adaptive sports programs and sustain a vibrant Para Sports culture.
Consultation services
Alongside their fitness programs, PCAS offers consultation services to agencies and educational institutions and serves as an advocate for adapted sports.
PCAS is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit multi-sport, recreation and wellness program for people with disabilities.
For more information, visit www.centeronline.com
