We’re still basking in the glow of the Olympics and appreciating how much time, training, and focus goes into each athlete’s journey. But it doesn’t stop there. The Paralympics are kicking off this year on August 28th, and in honor of this event, LCB is shining a spotlight on one of our associates who is a Paralympic champion! Hers is a story of athleticism, adversity, perseverance and ultimately, accessibility.
Maureen McKinnon was an able-bodied florist and sailing enthusiast until the age of 30, when fate tipped her hand. She was visiting Maine for a regatta when she tripped on a rope, fell 13 feet down, landed in a sitting position, and broke her back. She immediately felt numbness in her legs and just knew right away that she was paralyzed.
Unfortunately, she was correct. After time in hospitals and rehabilitation centers, she became accustomed to her “new normal” but was admittedly “too stubborn” to settle; she was adamant to live as “normal a life as possible.” For Maureen, this meant getting back to her true love – sailing. She found a therapeutic sailing program – but it was more of a boat ride, and Maureen did not feel like an active participant.
Off to the Races
Not deterred, Maureen began kayaking. It was a complicated process, getting in and out of the kayaks on her own, and resulted in “quite a few rusty wheelchairs over the years.”
When on the porch of the Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead, MA, she met a paraplegic man and questioned why he was there – not knowing that people like them could competitively sail. The man, Rich Doerr, convinced her to get on a Sonar (a triple-handed boat sailed by able bodied and adaptive athletes alike, thanks to its accommodating functionality.)
Six months later, that same man offered Maureen a spot on his three-person Sonar team to compete for the Athens Paralympic games. The rest – some might say – is history.
That first conversation with Rick helped to turn her life around. He was a great friend and mentor to Maureen. She was thriving out on the water. Continuing on her Paralympic journey, she earned a spot in a 2-person boat competing in the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games – she and her partner, Nick Scandone, won gold!
Of course, this all sounds way easier than it was. Sailing as a paraplegic is incredibly challenging, and requires endless adaptation to make the vessel accessible. But Maureen did not let any challenges get in the way of her dreams. She also competed in the 2016 Paralympic games in Rio, and continues to sail to this day. To honor her first sailing partner, Nick Scandone, and Jonathan Evans, another former skipper that helped her reach her dreams with his sailing skills and friendship, Maureen’s current sailboat is named the “Scandevan.”
Riding Waves of Resilience
But this story isn’t only about Paralympic sailing. It’s also a beautiful story of resilience, and reaching your dreams in the face of adversity. Since her accident, Maureen has traveled to thirteen different countries and sailed in eleven of them! She has persisted and pursued and created a life for herself that she never thought possible.
“I tried very hard to lead a normal life and if I want to do something, or try something, I just find a way to do it adaptively. Often, with a little help from my friends.”
Accessibility at Work
Professionally, Maureen has created a successful career for herself at LCB Senior Living as an Associate. She found that LCB’s communities are fully accessible for residents with mobility challenges, and are therefore fully accessible for her. At LCB, her wheelchair doesn’t hold her back at all. Every space in the community is outfitted to accommodate people with mobility impairments – every sink, every floor, every countertop – making her feel accepted, and comfortable.
“LCB’s buildings are built architecturally, both visually beautiful and simultaneously accessible. This terrific architecture allows me to be proficient at my job, without barriers. I’m not some company’s square peg trying to fit into a round hole. I appreciate this environment more than I could probably put into words! It’s a game changer.”
Today, Maureen’s residents love to hear about her sailing adventures! She gladly regales them with tales of her travels and shares how she continues to reach for her dreams. Her stories remind residents, colleagues, and friends that even when you face mobility challenges, a positive attitude and a supportive, adaptive environment – both physically and emotionally – makes all the difference.
To hear even more stories like this and see the athletes in this year’s competition, see the schedule of events. Good luck and godspeed to all of these inspiring athletes!