North Chicago vets to compete in wheelchair games

NORTH CHICAGO -- A six-member team of veterans from North Chicago VA Medical Center has big plans for the Fourth of July.

They're heading to Denver for the National Veterans Wheelchair Games.

The yearly event is for military vets who use wheelchairs for sports competition. It's the world's largest annual wheelchair sports competition. The Department of Veterans Affairs and Paralyzed Veterans of America organize the six-day event.

Navy Veteran Karen Van Benschoten (Behn-SHOW'ten) of Racine, Wis. just got out of the hospital for complications from multiple sclerosis. She's a past gold medal winner and plans to compete in several games including track and table tennis.

She says the games show wheelchair athletes can train and compete in highly competitive sports. And that it's all about camaraderie and cheering other vets on.