Valor Games kick off in Triangle

>>> THEY SERVED OUR COUNTRY

WITH HONOR AND BRAVERY SO IT IS

ONLY FITTING THAT THEY

PARTICIPATE IN THE VALOR GAMES.

THE THREE-DAY COMPETITION FOR

INJURED VETERANS AND ACTIVE

MILITARY IS IN CHAPEL HILL AND

DURHAM THIS WEEK.

ARIELLE CLAY JOINS US LIVE WITH

WHY ATHLETES SAY PLAYING THE

GAMES IS SO IMPORTANT.

>> Reporter: THE VALOR GAMES

ARE BEING HELD HERE ON THE

UNIVERSITY OF CHAPEL HILL'S

CAMPUS AND ALSO UNIVERSITY OF

NORTH CAROLINA'S CHAPEL HILL

CAMPUS STARTING TOMORROW.

MORE THAN 100 MEN AND WOMEN ARE

GETTING THE CHANCE TO COMPETE.

THEY'RE DOING THEIR BEST TO

KEEP THE BALL IN THE AIR ALL

WHILE SITTING ON THE GROUND.

IT MAY LOOK LIKE PLAIN OLD FUN

BUT THERE IS MORE TO THESE

GAMES.

>> STAYING ACTIVE JUST HELPS

THE MIND, THE HEART, THE SOUL,

THE BODY.

IT'S MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH TO

RECOVERY.

>> ASHLEY THOMAS' ORGANIZATION,

BRIDGE TO SPORTS, IS HOSTING

THE SOUTHEASTERN VALOR GAMES IN

CHAPEL HILL FOR THE THIRD TIME.

THE THREE-DAY EVENT IS FOR

VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED.

IT INVOLVES 10 ADAPTIVE SPORTS

LIKE THIS SPECIAL VERSION OF

VOLLEYBALL.

>> I'M COMPETING IN ROLLIE

BALL, AIR RIFLE ARCHERY AND

SHOT PUT.

-- VOLLEYBALL.

>> I GOT SHOT IN THE HEAD.

IT DIDN'T PENETRATE MY HELMET

BUT IT BROKE MY NECK.

THEN TWO WEEK LATER, I GOT

BLOWN UP.

>> THAT EXPLOSION BROKE HIS

BACK.

HE SAYS SEEING ALL THE WORK

THAT WAS PUT IN THE VALOR GAMES

MAKES HIM FEEL APPRECIATED FOR

HIS SERVICE.

>> A LOT OF PLACES, YOU DON'T

GET TO SEE ALL THE SUPPORT, HOW

EVERYBODY SUPPORTS YOU AND THE

JOB THAT WE'VE DONE.

>> THOMAS SAYS IT IS IMPORTANT

FOR THE ATHLETES TO BOND WITH

OTHERS WOULD HAVE ALSO FACEED A

LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY.

>> BEING WITH PEOPLE WOULD

UNDERSTAND A BIT OF THAT

JOURNEY HELPS TO YOU FEEL SOME

ACCEPTANCE OF WHERE YOU ARE ON

THE JOURNEY.

>> IT IS TREMENDOUS.

IT IS HEALING.

IT IS FANTASTIC, THE PEOPLE,

THE GAMES.

>> Reporter: THE GAMES HERE AT

UNC WRAPPED UP AT ABOUT 3:00.

TOMORROW BEING THEY WILL BE AT

DUKE UNIVERSITY.

THERE, ATHLETES WILL

PARTICIPATE IN ROWING, POWER

LIFTING AND ARCHERY.

>> THEY LOOK LIKE THEY'RE

HAVING A GREAT TIME DOING THAT.