Kayaking in Seneca Landing Special Park

These days, our defenders, currently undergoing prosthetics and rehabilitation in the USA, tried a new experience — kayaking on the river at Seneca Landing Special Park in the suburbs of Washington. 

Soldiers met Joe Mornini, co-founder of Team River Runner, whose team has been creating opportunities for healing wounded veterans via water paddling and has helped about 5,000 veterans every year. Joe has dedicated more than 35 years of his life to kayaking. He says the river is his second home. 

Let's have a look at why kayaking is so useful for veterans in the rehabilitation process:

• kayaking is a type of rehabilitation that teaches the military to feel the balance of the body and trust it;
• movement in a wheelchair or on crutches puts a specific strain on the muscles of the upper limb girdle, while rowing uses other muscles, which helps strengthen the entire muscular frame;
• during rowing, the human brain starts to work differently and, for a moment, “forgets” that a certain limb is an amputee, thus helping the military to alleviate phantom pain;
• rowing in stormy waters brings back the sense of adventure and camaraderie they had at the front with their comrades. 

With his enthusiasm, Joe Mornini made men desire to learn paddling, despite their amputations and fear of water. Our veterans did a great job and got an incredible energy boost from kayaking!

Thanks to Joe Mornini and Team River Runner for the great opportunities for rehabilitation for the Ukrainian defenders!