History of the Monterey Bay Veterans, Inc.

 

Monterey Bay Veterans, Inc. was formed in 1987 as a Wheelchair Salmon Derby. The idea was formed by a wheelchair patient in the Veterans Administration Hospital in Palo Alto . While in spinal cord rehabilitation therapy, doctors, nurses and rehabilitation therapists taught him the first step. The most difficult is the physiological conditioning. With the proper state of mind and physical therapy, patients can reach their bodies’ maximum strength and output. While this patient was attending group counseling, doctors and therapists agreed that a sports fishing trip would be very good therapy. A volunteer committee was formed to bring the Spinal Cord Patients to Monterey for a day of fishing. That is how the first Wheelchair Salmon Derby began, over 25 years ago.  

After the first derby, therapists contacted the derby committee to thank them, and related the success of this type of therapy, and how it helped the participants. During the following two months, the committee had many conversations with doctors and rehabilitation therapists regarding the positive aspects of this type of sports rehab therapy. The committee decided to make the wheelchair derby an annual event. In 1988 all Veterans Administration Medical Centers in California were invited to attend. The derbies have now grown to involve hospitals, and veterans homes throughout California . The derbies grew at such a fast pace that by 1991, a non-profit 501c 3 organization was formed in order to fund this type of operation. Thus the Monterey Bay Veterans, Inc. was established.

Officers were voted for the positions of President, Vice President, and six Executive Board Members. These offices are elected each year to represent the organization.

Monterey Bay Veterans, Inc. Sports Rehabilitation Center is staffed by an all volunteer force, which is overseen by an Executive Director. The programs require thousands of volunteer hours each year. The center has worked with tens of thousands of disabled participants to date. Participants come from all over the United States and from all aspects of life. Our program has been recognized nationally and recreational sports rehabilitation is now recognized as a tool in many therapy programs.