Ford and Geely Explore Strategic Manufacturing Partnership in Europe 
Once Upon a Farm Raises Nearly $198 Million in IPO, Valued at Over $724 Million 
CK Hutchison Launches Arbitration After Panama Court Revokes Canal Port Licences 
SpaceX Pushes for Early Stock Index Inclusion Ahead of Potential Record-Breaking IPO 
Sony Q3 Profit Jumps on Gaming and Image Sensors, Full-Year Outlook Raised 
Global PC Makers Eye Chinese Memory Chip Suppliers Amid Ongoing Supply Crunch 
TrumpRx Website Launches to Offer Discounted Prescription Drugs for Cash-Paying Americans 
Washington Post Publisher Will Lewis Steps Down After Layoffs 
TSMC Eyes 3nm Chip Production in Japan with $17 Billion Kumamoto Investment 
OpenAI Expands Enterprise AI Strategy With Major Hiring Push Ahead of New Business Offering 
Instagram Outage Disrupts Thousands of U.S. Users 
Prudential Financial Reports Higher Q4 Profit on Strong Underwriting and Investment Gains 
SoftBank Shares Slide After Arm Earnings Miss Fuels Tech Stock Sell-Off 
Hims & Hers Halts Compounded Semaglutide Pill After FDA Warning 
Nasdaq Proposes Fast-Track Rule to Accelerate Index Inclusion for Major New Listings 
Tencent Shares Slide After WeChat Restricts YuanBao AI Promotional Links 
Rio Tinto Shares Hit Record High After Ending Glencore Merger Talks 
SANTA ROSA, Calif., May 9, 2016 -- Stefan LeRoy (US Army Ret.) and Gabe Martinez (US Marines Ret.) are competing in the 2016 Invictus Games in Florida. Both veterans are bilateral amputees as a result of injuries sustained during their military service. They have battle buddies both on and off the field, with four legs and a tail!
|
||||||||||
Off the field, LeRoy works with Canine Companions for Independence Service Dog Knoxville, and Martinez with Service Dog Wonka. Both canines assist them in daily activities to enhance their independence, retrieving prostheses and opening doors. Knoxville and Wonka have been trained in 40 commands including turning on lights, carrying items and retrieving items such as credit cards or assistive devices. Their injuries haven't held them back and both veterans will both be competing in track and field events this week. In addition, LeRoy, 25, will be participating in cycling, swimming and indoor rowing at the games.
"Wonka is a Marine dog, he's all about mission accomplishment" says Martinez, 27, from Colorado. "Once you have a good strong partnership with an assistance dog like Wonka, everything changes. I was injured on Thanksgiving and walking by February, but I still need Wonka to help."
The Invictus Games run May 8-12 in Orlando, Florida and bring together wounded service members from 15 countries, including the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The Paralympic-style games feature athletes competing in more than 10 events. Service Dog Knoxville will be cheering on LeRoy from the sidelines.
LeRoy lost both his legs after stepping on an improvised explosive device while he was carrying an injured soldier to a medevac helicopter. Since receiving Knoxville, LeRoy has less to worry about with and without his prostheses. "It's amazing how much he has impacted my life, "LeRoy says. "Knoxville has impacted the lives of everyone he meets, and it's wonderful to have his help and support."
For over 40 years, Canine Companions for Independence has been enhancing the lives of people with disabilities by training and placing more than 5,000 assistance dogs with program graduates, including over 140 dogs with wounded military veterans and more than 1,500 dogs with children, entirely free of charge.
Photos accompanying this release are available at:
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=40184
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=40185
CONTACT: Jeanine Konopelski
707-577-1759
[email protected]
