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Members of the Balboa Hospital Wounded Warriors pose for a photo with MBAC staff.

MBAC and Sharp Hospital serve those who served

LCPL Micah Garza was standing post in Rhamadi , Iraq when he was hit by sniper fire , causing him to lose a portion of his bicep muscle. PFC Joshua Onan's convoy was hit by IED's while on patrol. Onan sustained significant head, knee, and shrapnel injuries during the attack which took the lives of nine others in his unit.

Thanks to the generous support of the Mission Bay Aquatic Center , Sharp Hospital , Kawasaki , Torrey Pines Kiwanis, and San Diego's House of Motorcycles, today these heroes were on the bay, having the time of their lives.

These honorable US Marines are recovering from their injuries at Naval Medical Center San Diego as part of the C5 Recreation Therapy program.  The  program provides opportunities for recovering service members to learn new recreation activities or participate in old activities that they enjoyed prior to their injuries.  In many cases a modification to the activity or the equipment used is necessary in order to participate. 

Specially designed sit-skis are one example of how watersports can be accessible.
"The activities that are selected address the overall physical and psycho-social rehabilitation goals. " says Dave Donaldson, a C5 Rec Therapist at NMCSD.  "Thanks to the collaborative efforts in putting Day on the Bay together, enhanced self esteem, heightened self confidence, improved physical capacity, and wider smiles are all evident in the wounded warriors that participated today. "

The Day at the Bay, designed to adapt water sports so that they can be enjoyed by persons with all levels of ability, included adaptive waterskiing, wakeboarding, kayaking, sailing, and jet skiing. For some of the servicemen, this was the first time they have taken part in water sports since their injury.

Mission Bay Aquatic Center Programs Manager Kevin Waldick says that the event shows the community that water sports can be enjoyed by all people, regardless of their ability, or disability.

"We hope this event shows people that there is still plenty of options available for them to participate in activities they thought might not be possible after their injury or the onset of a disability." explains Waldick.

In addition to honoring those active duty servicemen injured in combat, the event also hosted several patients from the San Diego Veterans Administration Hospital , as well as other persons from the San Diego disabled community.

For more information on programs for persons with disabilities, see the accessible watersports page.

MBAC accessible dock grand opening

Later this month, the MBAC will be hosting a grand opening of the newly constructed accessible dock with Ramp-Ryder system, adjacent to the center. The system is one of a kind in the State boating system and was built by a grant from the California Department of Boating and Waterways. City Council members will be on hand to inaugurate the opening of the dock. Persons with disabilities will be invited to try the dock out and take part in free sailing rides. Members of the general public will also be invited to partake in the festivities. For more information, or to request notification of the date, contact Kevin Waldick at (858) 488-1000x 215.