2018 Joe Mornini - Team River Runner - United States of America

Joe Mornini (USA) with Team River Runner - Nominee for the 2018 Foundation Award

Website: http://www.teamriverrunner.org
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TRRUSA/
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/TeamRiverRunner

Founded: 2004, Sport: Whitewater Kayaking

Since 2004, Joe Mornini and Team River Runner have been helping connect and create healing opportunities for  wounded veterans by putting a paddle in their hands. A retired special education teacher and lifetime outdoor enthusiast, Joe co-founded Team River Runner (TRR), an organization whose mission is to provide wounded and disabled veterans with the opportunity to embrace new challenges through adaptive paddling adventure programs. It has a very positive impact on war veterans who are attracted to whitewater kayaking because it gives back the sense of adventure and camaraderie the military provides. Also, Team River Runner offers an exciting way to improve their health, strength, and connection with nature.

Team River Runner today offers weekly paddling sessions in over 65 locations across the United States and has helped countless war veterans overcome psychological and physical wounds of war through the healing power of water. Much more than an adaptive sports program, TRR provides hope and healing to those who have risked so much, yet asked for so little. It’s an opportunity to enjoy nature and realize its social, physical benefits, whether tackling whitewater rapids or paddling on peaceful flat-water. It’s an environment that facilitates connection, allowing veterans to reunite with their families and forge relationships with those who have endured similar pain on the river to recovery.

In September, Joe’s vision to have blinded veterans solo kayak the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon came to reality. Five blind veterans, guided by trained sighted veterans, successfully paddled 226 miles of the river in this historic adventure of a lifetime!

TESTIMONIAL/QUOTE:
“We’ve yet to meet a disability we can’t put in a boat.” — Joe Mornini