Heading to the Paralympics

Raymond Martin, of the North Jersey Navigators—an adaptive sports team for junior athletes with disabilities, sponsored by Kessler Foundation—is having quite a year. At only 18 years old, he proved that he will be an asset to Team USA in the Summer Paralympics in London. During the US Paralympic Track and Field Trials last weekend, Ray set a new world record in the 200 meter T52 division with a time of 30.18 seconds. He is also nominated for the prestigious ESPY Award in the “Best Male Athlete with a Disability” category. Vote for Ray today at http://espn.go.com/espys/voting?vote=8081155&lang=en.

Navigator Hannah McFadden also made the Team USA Paralympic Team. Hannah, 16, is a wheelchair track athlete. Gianfranco Iannotta, a teammate of Ray’s on the Navigators for more than a decade, was chosen as an alternate.

Jessica Galli, also part of the Kessler Foundation family, earned a spot on Team USA as she set a world record for the women’s 200 meter in 28.93 during the trials. She is a former member of the Kessler Foundation WheelBlazers. Jessica is also a frequent competitor in the annual Kessler Foundation Wheelchair 10K and has won her division ten times in her 11 years of competing. Her latest victory in the 10K came on Memorial Day 2012 as she set a new Women’s Open course record.

We wish these athletes the best of luck as they head to the London Paralympics!