LOUISVILLE, Ky - In a small cove on Louisville’s waterfront rowers come who aren’t usually breaking speed records, but they’re shattering personal goals.

On Saturdays, Katie Donahue’s morning begins with a bus ride to the rowing facility. After a warm-up she walks down a steep ramp to the docks. Though she gets strapped into a boat, this is the moment the 33-year-old with cerebral palsy feels liberated.

“Rowing allows me to put my spirit and my heart on the water,” said Katie after finishing her warm-up on one of a handful of rowing machines in the building. “Every time I row that’s where I leave it.”

Katie’s been part of adaptive rowing for 20 years. That’s no surprise when the program’s director, Randy Mills, says it’s unlike any other adaptive sport.

“They are maneuvering the boat with their own effort,” he said while standing on the dock. “Yes, if you’re playing wheelchair basketball you’re maneuvering your chair by yourself, but you do that on a daily basis. Here, they’re using a little bit different muscles than they would normally use.”

The staff is strictly volunteer-based; in fact, they pay their own $25 fee to join. And, not only do they take rowers of all abilities, they foster all goals.

“You want to row competitively? we’ll take you to Philadelphia or to Moline, Illinois where we used to go and row,” Mills added. “If you just want to do it recreationally, that’s fine.”

During our visit two other rowers joined in; David, who’s living with down syndrome, and Melinda, who gets dialysis three times a week but makes sure to come down to the docks, even for just 20 minutes.

“It’s like my sense of freedom, my sense of security,” Katie smiled. “Knowing that I’m powerful.”

It costs $100 to row for a season. What they get in return seems well worth the effort.

If you are interested in volunteering for or joining the adaptive rowing program, click HERE.