AZ Insider: Olympic Winner Amy Van Dyken's Charity gets $10,000

 
 
 

Kathy Shayna Shocket has the inside scoop on people who make a difference. 

 amy-van dyken- robin-roberts

Why Former Olympic Swimmer Amy Van Dyken-Rouen's new charity is an army. 

The Fiesta Bowl just presented a $10,000 to the new charity of former Olympic swimmer Amy Van Dyken- Rouen. Her newly established charity is called Amy’s Army and quite appropriately named!

After Amy’s spinal cord was severed in ATV accident in June, she was surrounded with an army of support from family, friends and fans calling themselves Amy’s Army. Her charity is a continuation of that support. 

The nonprofit organization will provide financial assistance to paralysis sufferers whose health insurance won't cover needed equipment. 

Amy, a former Olympic swimmer, is a six-time Gold Medalist,who won four gold medals at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and two more in Sydney before retiring. 

 

amy van dyken fiesta bowl court

(Pictured above are Amy and the Fiesta Bowl Court:: Melia Coury , Jasmine Clarke-Telfer , Arizna Luna, and Sheridan Myers )

Amy’s recovery experience opened her eyes to the difficulties many people face when adjusting to life with a spinal cord injury.  “We now have to navigate through this world in a new way, and we require special medical supplies and equipment to do it … supplies and equipment that insurance companies often don’t cover,” says Amy. 

 For example, she says,  “The degrading alternative to having a shower transport chair is being hosed off in a kiddie pool in the back yard. Compassionate people would agree that the chair is medically necessary.” Unfortunately, many insurance companies do not cover necessary items such as this. 

Amy's army of fans also had a chance to celebrate her serving as the grand marshal of this year's Fiesta Bowl parade in Phoenix..  For more info on Amy and Amy's Army http://www.amyvandyken.org/ 

 kathy-shayna-shocket

 Kathy Shayna Shocket is a freelance Writer and TV-Field Producer based in Phoenix, AZ. She’s a former TV Reporter who’s also written for national publications such as TIME Magazine, MONEY Magazine, PEOPLE Magazine, the Hollywood Reporter and The NEW YORK TIMES. She can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it