Adaptive Training Foundation Empowers Veterans through Exercise

 

It has become tradition that the last player selected in the NFL draft jokingly earns the title of “Mr Irrelevant”, and in 2008 David Vobora earned this recognition while being selected 252nd to the then St Louis Rams. After spending five seasons playing professional football, David founded a gym to help train potential NFL athletes. In January of 2014 he met retired US Army Staff Sergeant Brian Aft, and both of their lives were changed forever.

On a January day almost four years ago, David noticed Brian travelling by wheelchair in downtown Dallas. He felt as if they needed to meet, so David stopped and introduced himself to the US Army Veteran. After finding out that he lost all four of his limbs to an IED while in Afghanistan, David invited Brian to come train at his gym. For the next three months Brian came every day and the two men worked on creating a workout plan for amputees and individuals with physical disabilities. This friendship caused David to change his life plan and just months later he founded the Adaptive Training Foundation.

Today, the Adaptive Training Foundation (ATF) has grown into the elite facility for paralyzed athletes. They offer two different training programs that are completely free thanks to generous donations. The REDEFINE program is designed to help improve quality of life and independence. They also provide free temporary housing for anyone that joins from outside of the Dallas area. Their REIGNITE program is a bit more intense, as they work with athletes preparing for competition. ATF has trained competitors for events such as the Paralympics, Warrior and Invictus Games.

Later this year the Adaptive Training Foundation will move into a gym that is almost four times the size of their current facility. REDEFINE Program Director Hunter Clark is very excited to be able to expand upon their mission.

“The new facility will allow us to expand upon the number of accepted athletes in each nine week program” Hunter stated, “We look forward to eventually expanding this program Nationwide”. Hunter explained, “There is nowhere else offering this type of intense, detailed oriented and very specific training program”.

It is safe to say that since the time he was drafted to the NFL, David Vobora has gone on to become everything but irrelevant!

To learn more about their program or how to get involved, please visit www.adaptivetrainingfoundation.org or check out the video below: