TeamUP Community
Featured Blog Stories
Sandra Ricker
I was looking forward to enjoying the next steps in my life after retirement, when a painful and sudden incident began to paint a dark cloud over these dreams. Just over two years ago, I was enjoying a play with friends and family when standing up to leave the theater... 
A Caregiver’s Perspective: Sam Piper
When TeamUP co-captain Becky Piper suffered the home invasion attack that would forever change her life, her husband, Sam, knew his life would never be the same either. The aftermath of the attack, which lead to Becky’s development of several debilitating... 
Aika Yoshida
If you asked me all the sports I used to play, it might be easier to tell which ones I didn’t play. From my first love of trail running and marathon races, I branched out to mountain biking, rock climbing, equestrian, skiing, snowboarding, and yoga. I’ve been an... 
Lainie Ishbia
If you ask any elementary school age student what the highlight of their day was, the answer is almost always “recess.”But that was never the case for me as a young girl. Unlike my peers—who literally counted down the minutes until they could run, jump and play—I... 
Steve Lovelace
In November 1982 when I was 20-years-old, I was cutting down a huge tree. Suddenly, the tree split into two halves, fell down, and pinned me in between the two halves. This broke three of my lumbar vertebrae, bruised my heart, and crushed my left wrist and face. I was... 
Steven Peace
Just a few years ago I had an entirely different career path in mind until one night changed the course of my life forever. On October 16, 2006, while serving in the Navy, I suffered a massive stroke. The scariest part is that I was all alone when this experience took... 
Felicia Catarella
December 1st, 2012 is a day that I will both never forget and only half-remember.I was driving home in the late hours of a frigid Massachusetts night, feeling a bit light-headed thanks to a few recent bouts of vertigo.I’m told that I must’ve fallen asleep at the... 
Billy Lister
When I was 15 years old I was diagnosed with a rare and acute brain abnormality known as an Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM). To address this life threatening malformation, I underwent invasive brain surgery at the age of 16. The surgery was a success in eliminating... 
TeamUP Co-Captain Steven Peace Featured by TeamUSA
When Steven Peace suffered a Stroke will serving in the US Navy in 2006, he never imagined he’d return to his love of cycling. It wasn’t until he discovered a three-wheeled version of a racing bicycle he calls his “trike” that his luck... 
Greg Brown
To me, Get Back Up means empowerment and courage – the courage to take on a disability and show others that it can’t keep me or you down. I feel I have become part of a special group of people that can use this disability as a learning tool to keep moving...
Greg Brown
To me, Get Back Up means empowerment and courage – the courage to take on a disability and show others that it can’t keep me or you down. I feel I have become part of a special group of people that can use this disability as a learning tool to keep moving... 
Katie McKenzie
In August of 1997, when I was 11-years-old, I was hit by a car while running on the sidewalk to transfer city buses in Downtown Honolulu, HI. This accident led to both of my legs being broken, a broken pelvis, traumatic brain injury as well as being in a coma for a... 
Erin McGinnis
I did it. I finished my very first half marathon at Disneyland and can’t wait to do it again. I absolutely never expected to do this. I am 68 and never was athletic, we did not have gym when I was in school and there were no sports for women. While I did consider... 
Claytons Never Quit!
My son is a talented athlete, holding national records in discus and long jump. He loves to sing and loves being outdoors. He is a caring brother and a loving son, and can be extremely sweet (when he wants to be!). He is also a pediatric stroke survivor! I’m guessing...
Sandra Ricker
I was looking forward to enjoying the next steps in my life after retirement, when a painful and sudden incident began to paint a dark cloud over these dreams. Just over two years ago, I was enjoying a play with friends and family when standing up to leave the theater...
