Expect 50 limb-challenged athletes in Du Quoin this weekend for NubAbility camp

The City of Du Quoin this weekend welcomes approximately 50 limb-challenged athletes from all across the country and their families for the annual NubAbility Athletics Foundation camp at the Du Quoin High School. The founder is Sam Kuhnert and family of Du Quoin.

Local athletes and coaches are expected to assist during the camp.

It is a high quality camp for student athletes who have overcome the loss of a hand, an arm, a leg or a foot to become champions. The camp will include everything from drills to weightlifting to games.

This is the first year for the camp at the Du Quoin High School. The first were held on the campus of Greenville College.

Businesses have donated. The Kuhnert's host a kickball tournament to help sponsor the event. A Walker's Bluff chef will run the cafeteria at the high school for the three days.

The camp's theme is "No Excuses; I Came to Win." Chaz Bland, a long-time friend of Sam known better as Chazzy B, recorded a song for NubAbility to use as a theme for camp. He performed it at NubAbility Night at the Southern Illinois Miners game and will do so again at Friday's opening ceremonies.

The Du Quoin camp is closed to the public, but residents are invited to a special 10:30 a.m. Saturday event to see what the camp is about and how valuable it is.

Jack Medina of Designs for Fitness who worked with Olympic great Cathy Rigby and several professional sports teams will be the guest speaker. Miss Iowa Nicole Kelly, who was born missing a hand, will also visit and speak to campers on Saturday evening.