Young Sharpshooters: First-Time Shooting Adventure

On Saturday, June 28, the TFRD Taichung Branch held its first shooting experience event, attracting 30 patients and their families participating with great enthusiasm. The event featured a special guest speaker, Coach Du Tai-xing, an Olympic athlete and senior volunteer at TFRD, who shared his inspiring journey to the Olympic stage and provided an in-depth introduction to the spirit and values embodied in the sport of shooting. Following the presentation, Coach Zhang Mingfeng from the Zhongshan Junior High School Shooting Team guided participants through the basic operations and aiming techniques of air rifles, helping them develop proper shooting techniques in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere.

In the afternoon, participants engaged in live-fire training led by Coach Zhang and his assistant. Divided into smaller groups, they received both practical drills and individualized instruction. Although many began the session with visible nervousness, they gradually mastered the timing of their shots. With each pull of the trigger, they achieved a breakthrough both internally and externally.

The TFRD Kaohsiung Branch hosted a two-day event at the National Shooting Range in Nanzih from April 26 to 27, bringing together 35 patients and their families. The event featured a specialized training program led by Coach Du and the Nanzih Shooting Team coaching staff, who provided participants with comprehensive and hands-on instruction in shooting techniques. On the second day, participants visited a local horse stable, where they learned about the history of retired racehorses and explored the challenges surrounding the development of horse racing activities in Taiwan. The program concluded with a shooting competition, giving patients the opportunity to demonstrate the skills they had acquired during the event. The courage displayed by the patients in overcoming physical limitations and embracing new challenges left a lasting impression on all involved. TFRD expressed its sincere appreciation to the professional coaching teams whose dedicated support allowed patients to experience firsthand the unique appeal of shooting sports.

Translator: David Lee (Becker Muscular Dystrophy)