My 8 year old daughter was born without fingers on her left hand. She has been attending the First Volley sessions for 2 years and loves them! The tennis pros are very supportive, positive and funny. Her tennis has impoved a lot and she feels proud that she can play with other kids and adults.
I attended the Tennis Clinic held at Circle C courts and had a fantastic time..meeting the Pros that held the clinic was a great treat...everyone shared doing something that was out of reach to some of us, until the wonderful folks who Cared to give back to enhance the quality of life for many of us who were feeling left out of the many opportunities in life, that can still be enjoyed to the fullest of one's ability to Go For It...a Great Big Thanks to Robin and staff that made all of us feel Very Special that day which will always be with me...I am proud to have a ATTo Bock computer style "C" leg and glad that they are also a sponsor...God Bless and continue to make life better and a meaningful difference for Amputees..
My now 19-month old son lost his leg (above the knee amputee) at birth due to cancer. We attended a First Volley tennis event in Portola Valley, CA just to see what will be possible. Everyone was incredibly welcoming and it was really inspiring and heartwarming. He actually had a great time chasing tennis balls around the court. When he is older, we will certainly take him to future events.
I'm a 67 year old Below Knee amputee for 6 years now (how time flies when your having fun) And fun it is when you attend any of OPAF First's. I recently attended the first swim at the ACA Conference in California, We had such a good time and helped each other. We always have plenty of assistance and great tips for when we are on our own. OPAF helped a girl that was petrified of the water and by the time they were done she was putting her face under water and swimming. It was marvelous and heart-warming to see the look on her face and the smile in her heart that she was able to get past her fears. YOU GO OPAF!
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I'm a 67 year old Below Knee amputee for 6 years now (how time flies when your having fun) And fun it is when you attend any of OPAF First's. I recently attended the first swim at the ACA Conference in California, We had such a good time and helped each other. We always have plenty of assistance and great tips for when we are on our own. OPAF helped a girl that 2was petrified of the water and by the time they were done she was putting her face under water and swimming. It was marvelous and heart-warming to see the look on her face and the smile in her heart that she was able to get past her fears. YOU GO OPAF.
I am 50 years old, and have been a right above knee amputee for almost 4 years, due to a terrible infection. It was avdifficult adjustment, but the O & P Assistance Fund, with their "First Volley" (tennis) and First Swim, and "First Ride" (horseback riding which I most recently did) -, are wonderful events and made a huge difference to me in my recovery and adjustment to being an amputee. Being around others in similar circumstances in a supportive, reassuring environment made me feel comfortable and more "O.K" with my situation. As I watched others with worse disabilities be successful, it gave me the courage to also be "OK" with my own circumstances. I have met wonderful people who have made a difference in my life and most of the time I feel like a "whole" person. I may have my differences but I am still me! The O & P Fund has been a big part of my healing.
OPAF has helped initiate our First Tennis program in Southern California through its financial help, providing us with Tennis rackets, tennis balls, and prizes through Prince Racket Co. Robin Burton has been very supportive of us on a continuing basis and provides the best reasons for OPAF to continue in its good work helping the amputee community. As a result, we have single, double and triple limb-loss amputees up and exercising, through tennis, and our able instructor, Stan Backovsky. Hats off to OPAF for continuing all its sports and social activities.
OPAF has jointly sponsored an event with me. The organization publicized the event, coordinated the volunteers, arranged logistics, and ran the events. All the participants were thrilled with the tennis clinic. The professional running the tennis clinic was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and a great motivator. We had people with various disabilities, some who had never played tennis before and some who play regularly. Everyone had a good time and wanted it to become an annual event!
The OPAF has the vision of what its purpose is to the limbloss community. This organizaion allows those individuals, who have the desire to pursue many different types of physical activities, the opportunity to learn and be taught how to move forward in different sports related activites. I have personally participated in the First Volley Tennis clinics and was impressed with the level of teaching I was able to benefit from. I am a BKA and had an absolutely positive experience and look forward to the opportunity I can have when they come to my area. The only drawback is that it is only once a year. I would love to see the OPAF have the opportunity to offer their programs more often in my area.