THRIVE was honored to present Maureen McKinnon as its featured speaker at a Signature Luncheon on Thursday, Sept. 19, at Misselwood in Beverly.
Maureen McKinnon of Marblehead is the first American woman to compete on a paralympic sailing team, and also the first to win a gold medal.
At age 30, Maureen was a casual, weekend sailor who became paralyzed from the waist down after falling off a 13-foot seawall. A chance encounter with a fellow wheelchair-bound sailor inspired her to keep sailing and ultimately win gold at the 2008 Beijing Games. Maureen brought memorabilia from her Paralympic experience, including her medal which she passed around the audience.
A mother of two, Maureen’s lengthy resume includes owning a floral shop on Newbury Street in Boston, designing and running an adaptive sailing program for disabled adults and children, and serving on the Boards of Directors at both US Sailing and the Boston Chapter of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association.
In addition to sharing her adventures on the water, Maureen spoke about October being Disability Awareness Month. She offered information to expose some of the misconceptions related to hiring a person with disabilities.
Maureen’s story stressed the importance of pushing limits, overcoming adversity, and empowering oneself and others.
Thank you to all of the sponsors, including Platinum Sponsors – Wellpoint and Institution for Savings. We were thankful to be joined by students from Salem State University and The Children’s Center for Communication, with tickets generously sponsored by Wellpoint, Silver Lining Solutions and TD Bank.