Local family creates obstacle course for all ages and abilities

Wednesday, October 12, 2016
CALVERTON, Long Island (WABC) -- You don't have to be part of them to know that wild fitness challenges like "Tuff Mudders" and "Color Runs" are very popular.

But if you use a wheelchair, it can be hard to participate..until now.
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A father in Suffolk County is putting together the first "all abilities" obstacle course.

14-year-old Zak Stengel loves to be active. But there was a time when he couldn't because he was in a wheelchair suffering from hemophilia.

"I understand what it's like to have a setback like that," said Zak.

"It was a very scary diagnosis, a diagnosis that left us very isolated because it's such a rare condition," said his father Adam Stengel.



After holding several hemophilia walks in the city, his parents came up with the idea of HappyFest, a Tough Mudder inspired one-mile long obstacle course for people of all ages and all abilities.

It's being held this Saturday at Long Island Sports Park in Calverton.
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Participants have choices. They can do the challenging obstacle or the alternate right beside it.

So instead of doing the balance beam for example, there is a wheelchair-accesssible alternative.

And instead of climbing a rope, just pull the heavy sandbag to the top.

The idea is that no one is excluded.



"With your family, with your friends, nobody's segregated, we do it together," said Adam.
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For more information on HappyFest including ticket prices, hours and to pre-register, visit http://www.happyfestusa.com

The organizers will be giving out 100 free tickets to military families. If interested, email happyfestusa@gmail.com.

Hear more from Adam Stengel and learn more about the obstacle course:
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