YES, I HAD THE PLEASURE TO MEET TWO AMAZING AND INSPIRING ATHLETES. THEY ARE PART OF THE TEAM ALL THE WAY FROM LOUISIANA CALLED THE CAJUN CRUSHERS. AND THEY SAY BEING A PART OF THIS PROGRAM, IT’S SUCH A BLESSING, NOT BECAUSE THEY GET TO DO WHAT THEY LOVE, BUT BECAUSE IT’S A FAMILY. SO I LOST MY LEG LAST YEAR, DO AN AMPUTATION. AND AS A PART OF REHAB, JUST INTRODUCED TO THE ADAPTIVE SPORTS THROUGH REHAB AND ROXANNA AND THE CAJUN CRUSHERS, THE CAJUN CRUSHERS ARE A GROUP OF ADULTS LIVING WITH VARIOUS DISABILITIES, BUT THEY ALL HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON THE DRIVE TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND HAVE FUN IN ANYTHING THEY’RE DOING. THEY SAY THEY CONTINUE TO LIFT EACH OTHER UP AND ALSO SHARE IN EACH OTHER’S TRIUMPHS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE ENDEAVOR GAMES. WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN TO YOU, YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN NEVER DO THIS AGAIN. BUT WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE COME UP TO YOU AND SHOW YOU THAT YOU CAN STILL DO IT, IT’S AMAZING. AS A TEAM, THEY PRACTICE TOGETHER WEEKLY, MAKING SURE WHEN THEY DO COMPETE, THEY ARE DOING THEIR BEST AND THEY’RE ABLE TO LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER. AND WHETHER YOU HAVE LIVED WITH DISABILITIES YOUR ENTIRE LIFE OR IT’S NEW TO YOU, THEY WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO STRIVE FOR WHAT YOU LOVE IN YOUR SUPPORT SYSTEM WILL HELP GET YOU THERE. IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING OR IF YOU’VE OR IF YOU’RE A NEW AMPUTEE AND NEW TO HAVING A DISABILITY, A STROKE VICTIM, OR SOMEONE WITH A SPINAL CORD INJURY, FIND A GROUP LOCALLY HERE. I KNOW THAT OKLAHOMA HAS A GROUP AS WELL, JUST LIKE THE CAJUN CRUSHERS. I PROMISE IT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE. AND TODAY WAS A BIG DAY OF PRACTICE FOR THEM AND THEY ARE SET TO COMPETE IN THE SITTING VOLLEYBA
Endeavor Games brings athletes living with disabilities to UCO
The Endeavor Games welcomes world-class athletes to compete in a number of sports.
![KOCO logo]()
Updated: 5:20 PM CDT Jun 8, 2023
The Endeavor Games at the University of Central Oklahoma are underway, welcoming world-class athletes with disabilities to compete in a number of sports. Two athletes who came from Louisiana are part of the Cajun Crushers, a sitting volleyball team. They said this opportunity to compete isn't just about finding ways to do what they love. It is also a family. >> Download the KOCO 5 App"I lost my leg last year due to an amputation," said Ryan Lloyd, an athlete competing in the games. "Just introduced to adaptive sports through rehab, and now I’m on the Cajun Crushers." The Cajun Crushers is a group of adults living with disabilities, but they all have the drive to be successful and have fun in anything they do. They said they continue to lift each other up, but they also share in each other's triumphs, especially during the Endeavor Games. "When you have something like this happen to you, you think you’ll never do this again, but you have people come up to you and show you that you can still do it. It’s amazing," said Lakisha McFadden, an athlete. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.The team practices together weekly, making sure when they do compete, they are doing their best and are able to look out for each other. Whether athletes have lived with disabilities throughout their lives or this is new to them, they want to encourage everyone to strive for what they love. "If you are struggling or if you’re a new amputee or new to disabilities, a stroke victim or a spinal cord injury, find a group locally," Lloyd said. "I know Oklahoma has one here, as well, like the Cajun Crushers. I promise it makes all the difference." The Cajun Crushers will begin their official sitting volleyball competition Friday at UCO. Top Headlines Jordy Bahl’s 2-hitter helps Oklahoma top Florida State, inch closer to third straight national title ‘We’re not going to apologize’: Sooners softball doesn't back down after online hate Gardeners in Oklahoma confused after purchased jalapeños grow into wrong kind of pepper Officials respond to stabbing at Walgreens in Oklahoma City
EDMOND, Okla. — The Endeavor Games at the University of Central Oklahoma are underway, welcoming world-class athletes with disabilities to compete in a number of sports.
Two athletes who came from Louisiana are part of the Cajun Crushers, a sitting volleyball team. They said this opportunity to compete isn't just about finding ways to do what they love. It is also a family.
>> Download the KOCO 5 App
"I lost my leg last year due to an amputation," said Ryan Lloyd, an athlete competing in the games. "Just introduced to adaptive sports through rehab, and now I’m on the Cajun Crushers."
The Cajun Crushers is a group of adults living with disabilities, but they all have the drive to be successful and have fun in anything they do.
They said they continue to lift each other up, but they also share in each other's triumphs, especially during the Endeavor Games.
"When you have something like this happen to you, you think you’ll never do this again, but you have people come up to you and show you that you can still do it. It’s amazing," said Lakisha McFadden, an athlete.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
The team practices together weekly, making sure when they do compete, they are doing their best and are able to look out for each other. Whether athletes have lived with disabilities throughout their lives or this is new to them, they want to encourage everyone to strive for what they love.
"If you are struggling or if you’re a new amputee or new to disabilities, a stroke victim or a spinal cord injury, find a group locally," Lloyd said. "I know Oklahoma has one here, as well, like the Cajun Crushers. I promise it makes all the difference."
The Cajun Crushers will begin their official sitting volleyball competition Friday at UCO.
Top Headlines
