chal·lenge    [chal-inj] noun, verb, -

lenged-leng·ing, adjective, noun

something that by its nature or character requires special

effort; may interfere with or prevent action or progress.

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SIGNIFICANCE

• Everyone experiences challenges; some big and others small.

• Every time I visit my Uncle Allan, I watch him overcome challenges as part of everyday life.

• He makes many other challenges seem small.• When he became an international athlete, I

realized that most challenges can be overcome when work hard enough.

WHO IS ALLAN SEMENIUK?

• He was born March 9, 1967 in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.

• Throughout his childhood and into his teens he was a very strong and skilled athlete.

• He excelled in every sport; especially as a pitcher in fastball, a linebacker in football, & swimming.

• He loved family and friends and was always on the go -> usually on his motorcycle.

• He is an amazing man....my uncle Allan!

LIFE CHANGED AT 18

• Shortly after turning 18 years old, Allan was in a serious motorcycle accident.

One minute he was on his bike.... ...the next he was waking up in the

hospital as a quadriplegic.

“The ultimate measure of man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but

where he stands at times of challenge and controversy” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

SPINAL CORD INJURIES

• About 200,000 Canadians have spinal cord injuries.• 52% are paraplegic and 47% quadriplegic.• Approximately 11,000 new injuries occur each year.• 82% are male.• 56% occur between the ages of 16 and 30.• Injuries are most commonly caused by: Vehicular

accidents 37%, Violence 28%, Falls 21%, Sports 6% Other 8%.

MEDICALLY WHAT HAPPENED?

• Allan has permanent damage to C6-C7 vertebrae

• No use of lower body• Bicep function• Shoulder rotation• Elbow & wrist extension• Some loss of hand

function

Allan’s Philosophy After the Accident

“Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have – which is life itself.”

- Walter Anderson

REHABILITATION

• Pain, sweat & tears.• Preserve and strengthen

useable body functions.• Right from the start, Allan

was determined to do the best he could.

• Wanted no sympathy.• Said he would play sports

again....and excel at it!!!

WHEELCHAIR RUGBY PARALYMPICS

• 1991 – 2005 National Wheelchair Rugby Team

• 1996 Paralympics (Silver) in Atlanta, Georgia

• 2000 Paralympics (placed 4th) in Sydney, Australia

• 2004 Paralympics (Silver) in Athens, Greece

WHEELCHAIR RUGBY WORLD COMPETITION

• 1995 Silver Medal Nottwil, Switzerland

• 1998 Bronze Medal Toronto, Canada

• 2002 Gold Medal Gothenburg, Sweden

2002 World Champions!!!

Defeating the U.S. For the first time in

International competition!!

INDIVIDUAL HONORS

• 2002 and 2004 “Best Player” at Canadian National Championship.

• Numerous MVP awards while playing for Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and Canadian teams from 1987 – 2005.

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

On November 6, 2010 Allan Semeniuk was inducted into

the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame

NOVEMBER 6, 2010

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

On June 15, 2013 Allan Semeniuk will be inducted into

the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame

CHALLENGES....

“...are not supposed to paralyze you, they’re supposed to help you discover who you are.”

- Bernice Johnson

“...are opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves when life seems the most

challenging.” - Joseph Campbell