114 U.S. VETERANS MAGAZINE WWW.USVETERANSMAGAZINE.COM

SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS

I was able to prove to myself that I can still be active and take a walk with my wife (a Marine helicopter pilot) or play with my dogs and being able to compete really helped me with my recovery. Hairston first competed in a four-mile race in Central Park. It was the first time that I felt like myself, he said. As a Marine, we have to win everything, but I came in third place. That gave me the Paralympics bug. I have done a few marathons now in hand cycling and am getting ready to do three more. With two gold medals for cycling, a silver medal in archery and silver and bronze awards for track to his credit, Hairstons continued determination to succeed has reinforced he is still the same specimen he was when he joined the military - just a little bit different now. Hairston created a nonprofit called Salvage Life with the goal of inspiring others to lead a healthy and active lifestyle with a focus on veteran and disabled communities in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Knowing that people back home are disabled and not able to get the same support that I had here in the states was the reason I started the nonprofit, he said. As I continue in my recovery, I was able to host the first adaptive sports clinic in the Virgin Islands just before Warrior Games. I showed guys how to shoot archery and wanted to show people that you can make things work for someone with a disability. After my injury, I said if I can help just one person, it would be a success. I got to help eight people; thats the best part of it.