— Kate Z

“In 2013, my son, contracted transverse myelitis and was paralyzed from the waist down. During his week in the hospital he made a list of things he wanted to do when he got out of the hospital. First was riding his bike, and the second was fencing. He had started fencing during summer camp when he was 10 years old and loved it.
Out of the hospital, he ran around the block, biked and went back to fencing, but he wasn’t getting individual attention. It was as though he, and most of the others, were written off. Fencing become a drudge.
We started looking for an alternative fencing club that would be more appropriate. Ben needed somewhere that would take into consideration that he needed to gain strength and control and learn to fence in an environment of mutual respect.
It took some convincing to get Ben to take a look at a new fencing club, even after all our neighbors recommended it. Then, it took all of one day at summer camp at Durkan Fencing Academy for him to want to switch.

This fall, when he started he could bench press 30lbs; at this point he is up to 60 lbs. He is walking taller, eating better and fencing more. He likes the idea that he fences people who are nationally ranked. He believes he is becoming a better fencer because of the peer-to-peer interaction.
He is happier and healthier and a great deal of the credit goes to Durkan Fencing Academy.”