A
disabled Maine service Veteran, suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)and
depression, conversed with his VA counselor who told him, “I’m writing you a
prescription for VAST.” Although not a drug and not a remedy that required a
pharmaceutical prescription, the counselor was quite serious, and explained to
his client that Veterans Adaptive Sports & Training was probably the best
treatment for his condition.
The
VAST program operates at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester and offers free
year-round sports and other activities for veterans with physical and visual
disabilities, traumatic brain injury and PTSD.
VAST
volunteer Homer McLemore of Windham shared the veteran/counselor story at a
recent membership meeting of the American Legion Post 148. McLemore was there
to support the center’s speaker of the evening, Kristina Sabateanski, founder
and director of VAST.
Sabateanski
told the gathering that research supports frequent physical activity for the
disabled because it reduces stress, depression and secondary medical conditions,
while increasing confidence, employment rates and quality of life.
Year-round
games include hand and recumbent cycling, wheelchair basketball, floor hockey
and tennis, archery and the increasingly popular disc golf. Over the recent
winter, Sabateanski said participation also increased for cross country
skiing/biathlon utilizing pellet rifles. About 30 paralympians show up at the
outdoor center at Pineland every Wednesday from all over southern Maine. Five
or six hail from Windham/Raymond; several more arrive by van from Togus VA
Hospital in Augusta. The games and goodwill gatherings take place from 9 a.m.
to noon.
“Pineland
Farms takes care of our overhead,” explained Sabateanski. “They provide the
outdoor center and all the equipment.” VAST is funded in part by a grant from
the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs.
Volunteers,
many of whom are veterans themselves, and students help run the program. Students
are usually therapeutic recreation majors or taking elective classes like
Facilitating Adaptive Outdoor Recreation at the University of Southern Maine.
“But
it’s not all about us,” said Sabateanski, “the program is veterans helping
veterans.”
In
addition to physical well-being, the VAST program officials said the sense of
camaraderie among fellow veterans plays a critical role in the overall goal to
promote life-long good health. Down time between activities and a lunch break
afford the participants the chance to network and to share common experiences.
Sabateanski and McLemore’s observations suggest this collaborative time is as
valuable as the sports play.
One
spouse, referring to her veteran husband, said VAST brought out a new, more
positive side of his personality. “I’ve never seen him act that way.”
“I really enjoyed
Kristina’s history and passion about her VAST program,” said American Legion
post commander Mel Greenier. “I am very happy there is a program such as this
to assist our veterans. Her stories of various veterans who were doing
something for the first time and taking a moment to feel happiness again was
touching. I have had Post members tell me afterwards they want to be more
involved and will see if they can volunteer to help Kristina’s program.”
Sabateanski
said the program also offers multi-day sports camps. “There’s a transformation
after four days (together) – the camaraderie of military people does something
to take their minds off their disability.” She added, “That’s why VA counselors
recommend the prescription (for VAST).”
Windham
veteran Don Rogers said he gets involved regularly “…so I can get out.
Otherwise I’d just sit around the house.” Also, he added, in reference to the
USM volunteers, “There are pretty girls around, too.”
Sabateanski,
herself an Army veteran and two time U.S. Olympic biathlon participant, founded
VAST four years ago, inspired by recently injured veterans she encountered at a
military sports camp.
“It’s
never once felt like work,” she said. Unfortunately, “…they cut themselves off
from the community. But here, there’s a new light in their eyes.”
Now
in its fourth year, VAST operates 50 Wednesdays a year and includes two to four
multi-day camps. A turkey hunt was organized last fall. Fly-fishing and
fly-tying and a sailing camp are planned for this spring and summer. Participation
is encouraged, regardless of skill level.
VAST
has partnered with other community organizations across the country to develop
the U.S. Paralympics, or Paralympic sports clubs. Estimates put the number of
physically disabled Americans at about 21 million. For more information, visit
www.pinelandfarms.org/vast.
