TriWest Employees Volunteer at 2022 National Veterans Wheelchair Games

Phoenix, AZ (August 17, 2022) – The annual National Wheelchair Games is the world’s largest wheelchair sports competition for Veterans. For 41 years since 1981, the Wheelchair Games have been held in various cities across the U.S where paralyzed and other physically injured Veterans compete in a range of sports competitions.

Last month, TriWest Healthcare Alliance (TriWest) was proud and humbled to be a primary sponsor of the 2022 National Veterans Wheelchair Games near its hometown in Tempe, Ariz. The weeklong Games, held July 7-12, attracted hundreds of Veteran athletes competing in a range of sporting events all co-presented by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Every year, Veterans from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and Post-9/11 Armed Forces Campaigns compete in this celebration of courage and camaraderie.

According to the VA’s National Wheelchair Games website, the Games are open to all U.S. Veterans “with spinal cord injuries, amputations, multiple sclerosis, or other central neurological conditions who require a wheelchair for athletic competition.”

Competitors for the Wheelchair Games come from nearly every generation of Veterans. From newly injured first-time competitors to Paralympic athletes, each individual brings a unique story demonstrating the heart and passion of our nation’s Veterans.

TriWest was honored to be a part of this year’s Wheelchair Games and had more than 30 Phoenix-based employees volunteer at the Bowling event venue where more than 200 Veteran athletes competed over two days.

“I really enjoyed seeing the variety of Veteran experiences,” said Dr. James Robbins, TriWest Chief Medical Officer. “Some of the participants seemed relatively inexperienced, but enjoyed getting to do something new and different. Others, who clearly had bowled many times in the past, also enjoyed the chance to compete against others,” he added.

Dr. Robbins attended the Wheelchair Games for the first time and enjoyed volunteering to spend time with the Veteran competitors.

Angela Rickey, TriWest Provider Relations and Education Director, also attended for her first time. After hearing great things about past Wheelchair Games, she was excited to volunteer.

“In my work, I don’t have immediate opportunities to work directly with Veterans,” Rickey said. “I was so thankful TriWest was sponsoring the event and organizing this support. I enjoyed interacting with this group of Veterans that have overcome so much, and watching their enthusiasm and achievement,” she added.

TriWest has been a long-time supporter of the National Veterans Wheelchair Games and was thrilled to be in the community again serving Veterans after two years of social distancing due to the pandemic.

For more background and opportunities to join in supporting Veteran adaptive sports and the competitive spirit at the Games, please visit the official website for the National Veterans Wheelchair Games.