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John Squires has played rugby and gone cycling. He also enjoys skiing and plans on doing a marathon in 2010. What’s the big deal you ask? John Squires is a quadriplegic.
Being disabled hasn’t kept the Portage Lakes resident down and his love of sports started at an early age.
“I was one of those boys that were always interested in athletics,” Squires said.
“I started out with T-ball, but I truly preferred contact sports, and started out with football at an early age and then wrestled for a while.”
Squires played football for seven years and wrestled for three years prior to an accident that changed his life. He sustained a spinal cord injury while in high school and was rendered a quadriplegic.
The accident had a profound impact on Squires and he was left with a lot of questions.
“Before the injury, football was my life,” he said. “The question was, where do I go from here?”
It took Squires nearly five years to regain his independence, and as he went on to Kent State University, his life changed yet again.
“I was introduced to wheelchair sports, specifically rugby and hand cycling, so I made it a point to be active again.”
Squires currently enjoy playing rugby and were voted as a team captain. One of his new challenges is downhill skiing and this winter season, with a group called the Group Three
Trackers has made Boston Mills Brandywine Ski Resort their home.
“It’s nice because Brandywine has been so helpful to us and they have made it possible for a group of people who can’t walk to ski,” Squires said.
“They’ve been great and we can’t express our thanks enough.”
Despite the obstacles John Squires has had to overcome, he still has the drive and work ethic that inspires others. He gives motivational speeches, goes to disability seminars in workplaces and has a message for anyone who wants to accomplish anything in life.
“Even now in 2010, people still have pre conceived notions of people in wheelchairs. That they aren’t independent, not athletes, husbands and fathers. I’m here to show you that is not the case.”
If you would like to contact Squires, you can e-mail him at jpsquires@att.net
John Squires has played rugby and gone cycling. He also enjoys skiing and plans on doing a marathon in 2010. What’s the big deal you ask? John Squires is a quadriplegic.
Being disabled hasn’t kept the Portage Lakes resident down and his love of sports started at an early age.
“I was one of those boys that were always interested in athletics,” Squires said.
“I started out with T-ball, but I truly preferred contact sports, and started out with football at an early age and then wrestled for a while.”
Squires played football for seven years and wrestled for three years prior to an accident that changed his life. He sustained a spinal cord injury while in high school and was rendered a quadriplegic.
The accident had a profound impact on Squires and he was left with a lot of questions.
“Before the injury, football was my life,” he said. “The question was, where do I go from here?”
It took Squires nearly five years to regain his independence, and as he went on to Kent State University, his life changed yet again.
“I was introduced to wheelchair sports, specifically rugby and hand cycling, so I made it a point to be active again.”
Squires currently enjoy playing rugby and were voted as a team captain. One of his new challenges is downhill skiing and this winter season, with a group called the Group Three
Trackers has made Boston Mills Brandywine Ski Resort their home.
“It’s nice because Brandywine has been so helpful to us and they have made it possible for a group of people who can’t walk to ski,” Squires said.
“They’ve been great and we can’t express our thanks enough.”
Despite the obstacles John Squires has had to overcome, he still has the drive and work ethic that inspires others. He gives motivational speeches, goes to disability seminars in workplaces and has a message for anyone who wants to accomplish anything in life.
“Even now in 2010, people still have pre conceived notions of people in wheelchairs. That they aren’t independent, not athletes, husbands and fathers. I’m here to show you that is not the case.”
If you would like to contact Squires, you can e-mail him at jpsquires@att.net
