Send us a text

Rob Henderson is dual-licensed recreation therapist and addiction counselor who specializes in behavioral health service delivery: both private practice and professional trainings and development. With a career spanning clinical, administrative, and academic roles, he has served communities across the South- and Mountain-West United States. Rob is the president and founder of four behavioral health organizations: A.R.E., a recreation and adventure therapy provider; RITE Trainings, a behavioral health training organization; Recovery Park Homes, a recovery residence for women and children; and Foundation 4 Therapeutic Recreation, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to adventure-based healing for underserved populations.

Beyond his professional work, Rob is an experienced backcountry guide and adventure enthusiast. He shares his passion for the outdoors and music with his wife, Heather—his closest friend and business partner—alongside their large, lively family, often found exploring nature or enjoying homegrown jam sessions.

To learn more about Rob, visit https://www.ritetrainings.org/ .

Send us a text

Rosemary “Rosy” Spraker is an accomplished marathoner, advocate, and mentor who found her passion for running in 2005 while raising funds for cancer research in honor of her late father. Growing up running in the Colorado mountains with six sisters and three brothers, she developed a love for endurance and competition. Inspired by Kathrine Switzer, Rosy is determined to complete 25 consecutive Boston Marathons and is one of only 88 people worldwide to have finished all seven World Marathon Majors. She recently set a new personal record with a blazing time of 3:31:21 at the inaugural Every Woman’s Marathon at age 60 and won first place female in the Antarctica Marathon at the age of 61.

A decorated senior athlete, she earned gold medals in the Virginia and Maryland Senior Games and four golds and two silvers in the National Senior Games for 5K and 10K road races. A retired IT Management Consultant and Electrical Engineer, she now dedicates her time to inspiring others. As a certified 261 Fearless Coach, she launched a local chapter in the Washington, DC area, empowering women through running. She continues to serve as the Board President of 261 Fearless Club DC Metro, even while she now lives in Newbury, Ohio, with her husband, Lesley.

You can learn more about 261 Fearless at 261fearless.org.

Send us a text

This is part 2 of our conversation with Matt Blanchard. In this episode Matt describes what happened after a second car accident derailed his progress from the previous 15 years of recovery. He thrives in serving others in many ways, including through his organization St. George Adaptive Sports.

Matt Blanchard is a Utah-based motivational speaker, devoted husband, and proud father of three. His journey is one of resilience, redemption, and the belief that life happens for him, not to him. In 2006, a rollover accident left Matt paralyzed from the waist down with a T-12 total spinal cord injury. Through relentless determination and daily therapy over a span of 15 years, he defied the odds and learned to walk again.

Even beyond the physical challenges that the accident had imposed, Matt had other mountains to climb in his recovery. He struggled with an opiate addiction, which he overcame—only to face another life-altering moment in 2021 when a head-on collision with a drunk driver resulted in another spinal injury and broken bones that erased all the physical progress he had made since the previous accident. Yet, Matt views paralysis as a gift, shaping him into the man he was meant to be. As the founder of St. George Adaptive Sports, he empowers individuals with disabilities through recreation. A sought-after speaker, Matt inspires others to "DIG IN, DIG DEEP, and GET IT DONE."

To learn more about Matt, visit his website at https://blanchardinspires.com/.

Send us a text

Matt Blanchard is a Utah-based motivational speaker, devoted husband, and proud father of three. His journey is one of resilience, redemption, and the belief that life happens for him, not to him. In 2006, a rollover accident left Matt paralyzed from the waist down with a T-12 total spinal cord injury. Through relentless determination and daily therapy over a span of 15 years, he defied the odds and learned to walk again.

Even beyond the physical challenges that the accident had imposed, Matt had other mountains to climb in his recovery. He struggled with an opiate addiction, which he overcame—only to face another life-altering moment in 2021 when a head-on collision with a drunk driver resulted in another spinal injury and broken bones that erased all the physical progress he had made since the previous accident. Yet, Matt views paralysis as a gift, shaping him into the man he was meant to be. As the founder of St. George Adaptive Sports, he empowers individuals with disabilities through recreation. A sought-after speaker, Matt inspires others to "DIG IN, DIG DEEP, and GET IT DONE."

To learn more about Matt, visit his website at https://blanchardinspires.com/.

Send us a text

From as early as 6 years old, Paula Franetti had the dream to be in the Olympics to experience the thrill of being her very best. This far-reaching Olympic experience fostered an active childhood playing a variety of neighbor pick-up sports until women’s basketball became available in high school 10th grade. Paula’s life revolved around the pursuit of excelling at basketball both in high school and college. When competitive basketball ended after college, Paula sought to excel at running, competing regularly in road races including marathons and half-marathons.

Paula first learned of the National Senior Games when Pittsburgh hosted the 2006 Games. Not old enough to compete, she volunteered, and her pursuit of being an Olympic basketball player was re-ignited. Five National Games and two Huntsman World Senior Games later, Paula’s pursuit of being her very best came to a screeching halt when a speeding driver nearly killed her. Facing a projected 2-year recovery, Paula met her greatest challenge of finding a way to become her very best again by relying on her past to start over.

To learn more about her story, you can visit https://reboundplanner.com/ or purchase her book on Amazon.com entitled "Driving Force: How One Woman Rebounded from Life-Altering Injuries and You Can Too."

Send us a text

Sixty-six-year-old Yolanda Holder, also known as the “Walking Diva,” is a professional ultra-marathon walker and a two-time Guinness World Record holder for the “Most Marathons Completed in a Calendar Year.” She set her first record in 2010 by completing 106 marathons and ultras, then surpassed it in 2012 with 120. In 2019, she became the oldest person to achieve US Race Walk Centurion status (#94) by race-walking 100 miles in under 24 hours (23:52:17). A decorated athlete, Yolanda also holds the title of World Champion Pedestrian for finishing the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race in 51 days, 17 hours, and 13 seconds. Beyond her athletic achievements, Yolanda is a wife, mother, grandmother, inspirational speaker, author, and an advocate for Type 2 Diabetes awareness, promoting health through walking and positivity.

To learn more about Yolanda, you can check out her book, "My Journey to Guinness: "Walking Diva" Walking My Way into the Guinness Book of World Records."

Send us a text

Former Army Ranger and member of the Special Forces, Dr. Alec Eror, is a cardiothoracic surgeon in St. George, Utah who is affiliated with multiple hospitals in Utah, including Intermountain Health St George Regional Hospital and Intermountain Health Utah Valley Hospital. He received his medical degree from Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine and has more than 30 years of experience in the medical field, including expertise in heart valve surgery and heart bypass surgery. Dr. Eror currently serves as the medical director of cardiac rehab in the St. George Regional Hospital.

As an ambassador for Red Rock Bicycle Company, Dr. Eror loves cycling and averages 10,000 miles a year. He especially enjoys gravel biking, and he has done gravel biking races throughout the world, often planning vacations around these races. He has competed in cycling at the Huntsman World Senior Games for 5 years.

Send us a text

Mort Friedman, 88, is a decorated senior athlete with an impressive career in bowling and softball. Over more than 30 years, he has earned 38 medals at the Michigan Senior Olympics, National Senior Games, and Huntsman World Senior Games. In 2023, he won three gold medals in bowling, setting a new state record in doubles. Despite his age, he competes at a high level, recently rolling a 227 game in league play. Mort’s 549 total in singles at the Huntsman Games would have earned silver in the 55-59 age group—three decades younger than him.

A former Professional Bowlers Association Senior Tour competitor, Mort bowled Michigan’s first sanctioned 300 game by a Jewish bowler in 1957. He also helped the University of Michigan win the Big Ten Tournament in 1959. A longtime construction industry leader, Mort retired last year after 52 years as president of Mort Friedman Construction. With replaced knees and a healthy lifestyle, he continues to defy age, inspiring athletes of all generations.

Send us a text

Stan Swallow’s first bike race was in 1999 when 59 years old. He has been a dedicated cyclist since then.  He established a cycling group named the Utah Velo Club in 2003 at the request of a bike shop in American Fork, Utah.  He rides about 10,000 miles a year alone and with the club.  Rides range from 35 to 100 miles and include riders of all abilities, from teens to seniors.  Stan will chat with the riders and make them feel like they are the only ones riding with him.  This former Best Overall Racer in the Nation for his age division continues to race annually in national championships and in the Huntsman World Senior Games.  On days that Stan doesn’t ride, he organizes club events for winter hikes or snowshoe trips.

Originally from Fillmore, Utah, Stan ran track and wrestled in high school, earned an engineering degree from UCLA, and worked 36 years for the Federal Aviation Administration.  Married to Sharon for 60 years, this former marathon runner enjoys hiking, cold showers, and sauna sessions when not cycling.  A keto diet enthusiast, Stan relies on ketones and an energy drink during rides, skipping traditional snacks.

Send us a text

Carmen's 22-year journey in the Huntsman World Senior Games spans a wide variety of sports and teams, including softball, pickleball, bowling, and track and field. She has competed on multiple teams at the Games, and she has left a lasting impact on each one. Her track and field achievements include shot put, sprints, javelin, and standing long jump. 

A pivotal 2010 moment, hitting a walk-off grand slam, remains one of her most cherished memories. Now at the age of 85, her lifelong athleticism and positivity inspire all those around her as a passionate advocate for the Games. We were honored to induct her in the Huntsman World Senior Games Hall of Fame in 2023. Carmen is also a vital part of the Maryland Senior Olympics, the Golden Girls, and 80+ Colorado Peaches softball, and she serves as a senior sports association commissioner.