Aug 29, 2016
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On Butterflies of Wisdom today, Best-Selling Author, Win Kelly Charles welcomes Juan Carlos Gil. Juan was born November 16, 1981, in the city of Medellin, Colombia. In 1986, Juan moved to Miami Florida. When Juan arrived in America, he was only five years old, and he did not speak one word of English. Juan was born prematurely and as a result, have two disabilities. Juan is legally blind and has Cerebral Palsy. Juan had to have numerous surgeries on his eyes and legs. Juan’s family and he moved to Miami, so Juan was able to receive better health care and education. While Juan was in elementary school, in 1991, his P.E. teacher told him about wheelchair racing. That winter, Juan started his first wheelchair competition in the Orange Ball Sports Ability Games that was hosted by Miami Day Public School System. At these games, Juan started wheelchair racing in an everyday wheelchair or hospital chair. Many countries that came to the game saw that Juan had the determination and potential to be an active wheelchair racer. For example, the Canadian and the Israeli Para-Olympic coaches invited Juan to race for their countries. At this time, Juan was only ten years old! Juan had to decline their offer because he was still in school. Juan continued to race until he went to high school and he was awarded a grant by the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind that allowed me to obtain a push-rim racing chair. This gave me the ability to race around the nation which made him euphoric. In 2001, Juan had the opportunity to go to the junior national sport knowledge games. Juan was one of over five-hundred athletes that went to New Jersey for three weeks. This was during the summer, and we went there for various track and field events. Juan was the only athlete that came who was visually impaired. Overall, Juan came in third place for his races. Juan’s determination and tenacity have helped he progress to successfully coming in second place for his races even though Juan wanted to be in first place. Four years after Juan graduated from high-school, Mary Bryant approached him while Juan was doing his first marathon in Miami in the push-rim that was given to him while Juan was in high school. Juan was on the first bridge in the Miami marathon when Mary Bryant approached him and asked him if Juan would consider handcycle is racing the year after with Achilles International Track Club. Juan wanted to give it a try, so Juan took the offer and told her that he would. In 2007, Juan was doing the Avis North American racing tour when Achilles gave him a hand cycle. With this hand cycle, Juan has done many marathons and bike races across the country as the only legally blind people, like the M.S. 150 (Multiple Sclerosis 150 mile bike ride.) and the A1A marathon. In 2008, Juan was awarded Avis’ We Try Harder award. In February of 2008, Juan participated in the A1A marathon, and he came in second place. When Juan did the A1A marathon, he saw the beauty of what Fort Lauderdale has to offer with its pristine beach front. Juan’s goal in A1A was to finish in one hour and forty-five minutes. Juan wanted to achieve this goal not only prove it to himself, but also to other people too, that a visually impaired person is capable of doing this kind of races so long as that is what their heart desires to do. When one reads the above information about Juan, they will recognize how Juan is strong and dedicated to achieving his goals. Juan is going to keep working hard and not give up on things. Juan would like to take the time to thank you for taking the time to read this article and learning more about him. To find out more about Juan email him at juan2617@gmaill.com. To learn more about Win Kelly Charles visit https://wincharles.wix.com/win-charles. Please send feedback to Win by email her at winwwow@gmail.com, or go to http://survey.libsyn.com/winwisdom and http://survey.libsyn.com/thebutterfly. To be on the show, please fill out the intake at http://bit.ly/1MLJSLG. To look at our sponsorships go tohttp://www.educents.com/daily-deals#wwow. To learn about the magic of Siri go tohttps://www.udemy.com/writing-a-book-using-siri/?utm_campaign=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email. If you want to donate Butterflies of Wisdom, please send a PayPal donation toaspenrosearts@gmail.com. Please send a check in the mail so 100% goes to Bridging Bionics Foundation.
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