CCUSD: Sonoran Trails Student Gets Challenged Athlete Grant

Posted By The Peak on Mar 20, 2018

March 2018

CCUSD Middle School Student Receives Grant from
Challenged Athletes Foundation in San Diego

Lera Doederlein, an 8th grade student at Sonoran Trails Middle School, has received a $2,000 grant to go toward a new, custom-made hockey sled from Challenged Athletes Foundation in San Diego. This charity provides opportunities and support to people with physical challenges.

In June, Lera had bilateral knee disarticulation surgery to address a congenital condition called arthrogryposis. At the urging of one of her prosthetists, she tried sled hockey for the first time. She fell in love with the game and was borrowing a sled that was too big for her. “I’ve always been into sports and, after the surgery, I thought I would try sled hockey out. It was great,” Lera said. “My Teammates are really encouraging and I love that part of it.”

Lera was adopted from Russia as a baby after she was placed into an orphanage. She has been able to walk with the aid of braces, but did not believe that would provide her with the level of mobility she craved as she entered her teenage years. She elected to have the amputation surgery.

Lera wears No. 50 and is a forward on the Phoenix Coyotes Sled Hockey Team. “I like to be out in front,” she said, “I’m a playmaker.” One of her dreams is to play in the Paralympics in the future. The sled and the grant, for the purchase of additional equipment, will help in many ways. Her father, David, said, “It’s the one place she feels she can move freely. It has helped her in her own ability to grow into and cope with this new phase of her life.”

While appearing on the NHL Network segment to talk about Hockey Is For Everyone (celebrated through February), she was presented with a check and a new, custom made hockey sled. “You’re even more of a superstar than I thought you would be,” said NHL Network analyst Kevin Weekes.

In a videotaped message, Lera was invited to an Arizona Coyotes game by defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who is her favorite player.

Thank you for representing the caliber of student at Sonoran Trails Middle School. We cannot wait to see what the future holds for you.

Best,
Julia Scotto
Executive Assistant to
Dr. Debbi Burdick, Superintendent & Governing Board
Cave Creek Unified School District
480.575.2016 Phone/480.575.2092 Fax
jscotto@ccusd93.org

“You are what you do, not what you say” – C.G. Jung